Capitol Notepad, May 12, 2009

5 p.m. update: We’ll call tonight’s gathering the session’s first true press encampment outside the governor’s office. The latest good news is that agriculture and veterans omnibus just wrapped up, and should be fine with GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty. E-12 education omnibus is chugging away and Rep. Mindy Greiling is reportedly pushing to get things completed by 6 p.m. Pawlenty and legislative leaders had a meeting characterized as "cordial" by all, though very little new news was garnered from the presser. [The governor said that he offered the DFL a billion dollars in new resources, and in his words, they rejected their own position. He also disagreed with DFL claims that they are really cutting across the board, and criticized how DFL leaders talked about the thousands of layoffs that they say would result from slashing health and human services spending.] MMB Commissioner Tom Hanson announced over Twitter that he and Majority Leader Rep. Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm) are both fans of the NBC show "Chuck." The House should be in session around 6 p.m., and the Senate around 5:45 p.m. We hear that nothing too big is expected on either side, and any possible conference committee reports would have to be processed for tomorrow. The House will look at smaller calendar bills until around 9 or 10 p.m.– it’s been suggested that SF971 on school bullies might be the most interesting debate. Additionally we learned about a non-controversial tax bill (yes they exist) moving around today, HF1298, which should be fully available online by 6 p.m.

The House met in session at 9:30 a.m. Late yesterday, a "lights-on" bill, SF 2141, started making the rounds. The House floor session was slated to look at the public safety finance omnibus conference committee report.

Conference committees: Omnibus taxes (HF2323) is meeting at the call of the chair in Capitol room 15. E-12 education (HF 2) is meeting in Capitol room 112. Higher education (SF 2083) is meeting in Capitol room 118.

Omnibus energy policy (HF 863) is meeting in State Office Building room 500. State government finance (SF 2082) is meeting in the State Office Building basement at 10 a.m.

Health and Human Services (HF 1988) is meeting for "Round 2" in Capitol room 123, taking public testimony on "additional cuts to health and human services." Federal stimulus energy funding (HF 680) is meeting in room State Office Building 500N.

House side: Ways and Means deals with quite a few bills, including firefighter licensing, homestead property foreclosure mediation (HF 354), the omnibus retirement bill, Minnesota First bond sales, self-advocacy for people with developmental disabilities, automatic "motor voter" registration (HF 1053), health insurance for domestic partners of state employees and absentee ballot requirements.

Rules and Legislative Administration’s agenda was to be announced.

Senate side: Finance is hearing about Alzheimer’s disease, firefighter licensing standards and state lands sales and management provisions.

Judiciary is hearing about the Board of Judicial Standards confirmations of Douglas Fuller and Patrick Sexton, as well as a resolution to urge the president and Congress to repeal the 1863 law ordering the removal of the Dakota people from Minnesota and the Dakotas (SF 1623).

The Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division is hearing game, fish and aquaculture provisions, and a big natural resources bill (SF 1110).