Thoughts on the end of the legislative session.
I tuned in and out of yesterday's final day of the 2007 regular Legislative Session. There were a couple of interesting things that happened yesterday (besides the Cheesecake break) that I thought were interesting. Of course, I have decided to share them with you.
I'll start you off with a link to the House video archives. Any comments that I refer to will have the appropriate date, session and time mark in parenthesis.
First - a victory for parents. House and Senate confirees removed language from SF 184 that would allow nurses at family planning clinics to dispense oral contraceptives to minors under the age of 12 (5/21 session 1 starting at the 1 hour 20 minute mark).
HF 464 which puts all school district employees into a state wide health insurance plan was discussed next (starting at the 1:28 mark). There was much discussion on why an opt-out option was not left in the conference committee bill. The opt-out was something that was requested by several school districts because there were no guarantees that the costs would be lowered and these districts have plans where the costs to the insured are lower than what would be available to the pool. When pressed on why this was left out, all Rep. Sertich could say (when pressed on it by Rep. Mark Olson of Big Lake) was "We debated that at length a few days ago and I don't believe I'll be able to give you a sufficient answer today" (1:34 mark). Rep. Olson's follow up I thought was classic. He said that this is nothing more than the beginnings of a single payer system and it does not do a thing about reducing the problem of out of control health care costs and it will lead to rationing!
Session two lasted a whopping 25 minutes and dealt with concurrent amendments from the Senate and committee reports.
Session three was a 35 minute session and dealt mostly with a transportation "Lights on" bill. There were some fireworks in this session. Rep. Marty Seifert stood up (at approximately the 23 minute mark) to talk about the multiple transportation proposals that Republican Caucus (for two days) wanted to bring up a $2BILLION transportation funding package that did not raise gas taxes. The DFL leadership would not give consideration to the bill. The DFL had the opportunity for a roads bill and they passed on it!!!!! Rep. Sviggum got up (at about the 26 minute mark) and reminded the legislature that an "all or nothing" approach does not work. He said that there was a way to move forward without all of the tax increases, but leadership would not allow it to be considered. Rep. Lieder (DFL Crookston) countered that there was no movement from the Executive Branch (so apparently they were the only ones to negotiate with?). The rest of the session addressed modifications to charitable gambling provisions.
Session 4 was where all the fireworks were. The E-12 Education bill was discussed between the 28 minute mark and approximately the 2:30 mark. The highlight (for me) were the exchanges between Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) and the bills author Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville). It should be noted that there was some back and forth between the two in the local papers. Rep. Greiling took Rep. Buesgens to task for voting against the bill when it was voted on the first time. The reason that Rep. Buesgens voted against the bill was because it set up a two tiered funding system where the school districts of Minneapolis and St. Paul would get more funding (per pupil) than school districts in Hibbing, Kenyon or Jordan! Rep. Buesgens is (in his "real" job) a school administrator so he knows the ins and outs of school funding. It really is an educational experience listening to him talk about this subject.
At the 4:55 mark the real fireworks started. During the debate on over-riding the governors veto of the transportation bill (realize this was at approximately 11pm last night), Rep. Olson got up to chastise the DFL leadership for trying to threaten Republicans on the floor to get them to vote to over-ride. He said that was reason enough to vote no on the over-ride. Debate was rapidly cut off and a vote called. The over-ride attempt failed again.
As time became tight, Speaker Anderson-Kelliher got more aggressive in pounding down discussion. There was a time, right at the very end, when a voice vote was called where Rep. Anderson-Kelliher gavelled the vote as approved before those who voted against it had the opportunity to give voice to their "NO!" It seemed to me, watching the clock and the proceedings, that Rep. Anderson-Kelliher realized what time it was and was so determined to finish on time that she was not going to allow ANYONE other than Rep. Sertich to speak. Needless to say, there were a few Republicans who expressed their displeasure with the way that the last 10 minutes of the session were run. Rep. Laura Brod and Rep. Buesgens both tried to get proceedural clarifications on the way things were being run - with little response from Rep. Anderson-Kelliher. One Republican rep (I can't remember the name but if I find the picture I will link to it) was seen sporting duct tape over his mouth to symbolize how the speaker was silencing the "opposition".
It was interesting at times and at other times it was (as Senator Senjem said) like watching sausage or hot dogs being made - truly disgusting. Now comes the fun part - the spin. The DFL are all winging their way around the state (well all except Senate President Metzen) at taxpayer expense trying to justify their actions. The governor, meanwhile is pondering whether he will veto the tax bill en toto or whether he will use his line item veto in order to trim the fat out of the tax bill.
There is still some fun left to be had, but it is clear that the Republican minority - led by Representative Seifert and Senator Senjem have much to be proud of. The saved the taxpayers of Minnesota from having even more of their hard earned dollars confiscated by the state. Bravo ladies and gentlemen! You did bang up work!
UPDATE!!!! Mitch points out yet another example of the leadership of the DFL House. You certainly have to give them points for chutzpah...trying to ram through a 3% tax increase for St. Paul ONLY in the final hours of session with no debate, no testimony and no public notice! That certainly does take audacity.
I'll start you off with a link to the House video archives. Any comments that I refer to will have the appropriate date, session and time mark in parenthesis.
First - a victory for parents. House and Senate confirees removed language from SF 184 that would allow nurses at family planning clinics to dispense oral contraceptives to minors under the age of 12 (5/21 session 1 starting at the 1 hour 20 minute mark).
HF 464 which puts all school district employees into a state wide health insurance plan was discussed next (starting at the 1:28 mark). There was much discussion on why an opt-out option was not left in the conference committee bill. The opt-out was something that was requested by several school districts because there were no guarantees that the costs would be lowered and these districts have plans where the costs to the insured are lower than what would be available to the pool. When pressed on why this was left out, all Rep. Sertich could say (when pressed on it by Rep. Mark Olson of Big Lake) was "We debated that at length a few days ago and I don't believe I'll be able to give you a sufficient answer today" (1:34 mark). Rep. Olson's follow up I thought was classic. He said that this is nothing more than the beginnings of a single payer system and it does not do a thing about reducing the problem of out of control health care costs and it will lead to rationing!
Session two lasted a whopping 25 minutes and dealt with concurrent amendments from the Senate and committee reports.
Session three was a 35 minute session and dealt mostly with a transportation "Lights on" bill. There were some fireworks in this session. Rep. Marty Seifert stood up (at approximately the 23 minute mark) to talk about the multiple transportation proposals that Republican Caucus (for two days) wanted to bring up a $2BILLION transportation funding package that did not raise gas taxes. The DFL leadership would not give consideration to the bill. The DFL had the opportunity for a roads bill and they passed on it!!!!! Rep. Sviggum got up (at about the 26 minute mark) and reminded the legislature that an "all or nothing" approach does not work. He said that there was a way to move forward without all of the tax increases, but leadership would not allow it to be considered. Rep. Lieder (DFL Crookston) countered that there was no movement from the Executive Branch (so apparently they were the only ones to negotiate with?). The rest of the session addressed modifications to charitable gambling provisions.
Session 4 was where all the fireworks were. The E-12 Education bill was discussed between the 28 minute mark and approximately the 2:30 mark. The highlight (for me) were the exchanges between Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) and the bills author Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville). It should be noted that there was some back and forth between the two in the local papers. Rep. Greiling took Rep. Buesgens to task for voting against the bill when it was voted on the first time. The reason that Rep. Buesgens voted against the bill was because it set up a two tiered funding system where the school districts of Minneapolis and St. Paul would get more funding (per pupil) than school districts in Hibbing, Kenyon or Jordan! Rep. Buesgens is (in his "real" job) a school administrator so he knows the ins and outs of school funding. It really is an educational experience listening to him talk about this subject.
At the 4:55 mark the real fireworks started. During the debate on over-riding the governors veto of the transportation bill (realize this was at approximately 11pm last night), Rep. Olson got up to chastise the DFL leadership for trying to threaten Republicans on the floor to get them to vote to over-ride. He said that was reason enough to vote no on the over-ride. Debate was rapidly cut off and a vote called. The over-ride attempt failed again.
As time became tight, Speaker Anderson-Kelliher got more aggressive in pounding down discussion. There was a time, right at the very end, when a voice vote was called where Rep. Anderson-Kelliher gavelled the vote as approved before those who voted against it had the opportunity to give voice to their "NO!" It seemed to me, watching the clock and the proceedings, that Rep. Anderson-Kelliher realized what time it was and was so determined to finish on time that she was not going to allow ANYONE other than Rep. Sertich to speak. Needless to say, there were a few Republicans who expressed their displeasure with the way that the last 10 minutes of the session were run. Rep. Laura Brod and Rep. Buesgens both tried to get proceedural clarifications on the way things were being run - with little response from Rep. Anderson-Kelliher. One Republican rep (I can't remember the name but if I find the picture I will link to it) was seen sporting duct tape over his mouth to symbolize how the speaker was silencing the "opposition".
It was interesting at times and at other times it was (as Senator Senjem said) like watching sausage or hot dogs being made - truly disgusting. Now comes the fun part - the spin. The DFL are all winging their way around the state (well all except Senate President Metzen) at taxpayer expense trying to justify their actions. The governor, meanwhile is pondering whether he will veto the tax bill en toto or whether he will use his line item veto in order to trim the fat out of the tax bill.
There is still some fun left to be had, but it is clear that the Republican minority - led by Representative Seifert and Senator Senjem have much to be proud of. The saved the taxpayers of Minnesota from having even more of their hard earned dollars confiscated by the state. Bravo ladies and gentlemen! You did bang up work!
UPDATE!!!! Mitch points out yet another example of the leadership of the DFL House. You certainly have to give them points for chutzpah...trying to ram through a 3% tax increase for St. Paul ONLY in the final hours of session with no debate, no testimony and no public notice! That certainly does take audacity.
Labels: MN Legislature
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