by Steve Perry
Published: February 5, 2010
Tags: 2010 Governor's Race, Overheard at the Capitol
Between the caucuses, the campaign finance deadline, and the reconvening of the Legislature, it's been a rich week under the big top. And before the clock runs out on it, a few notes and observations that we weren't able to wedge in elsewhere.
by Paul Demko
Published: December 16, 2009
Tags: Al Juhnke, doughnuts, Overheard at the Capitol
State Rep. Al Juhnke has taken to calling it the "The Great DFL Doughnut Caper." Apparently when Democrats showed up to caucus at the Capitol on Tuesday morning there were no doughnuts -- or any other form of sustenance -- provided for the legislators.
by Steve Perry
Published: November 23, 2009
Tags: GAMC, Jim Abeler, Kurt Zellers, Larry Pogemiller, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Marty Seifert, Matt Dean, Overheard at the Capitol, Tim Pawlenty
Since the GOP night of the long knives that followed the transportation veto override in 2007, no House Republican has ventured outside the fold on any high-profile matter of taxing or spending. But a lot of legislative DFLers think the 2010 session and a looming election could change that equation.
by Steve Perry
Published: July 8, 2009
Tags: 2010 Governor's Race, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Martin Olav Sabo, Marty Seifert, Matt Entenza, Overheard at the Capitol, Roger Moe
Though she’s not yet an official candidate for governor, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis) has been discussing her pending run with members of the House DFL caucus in a series of one-on-one conversations. And the word around the Capitol is that Kelliher would retain her position as speaker through the course of the upcoming [...]
by Steve Perry
Published: June 29, 2009
Tags: House Minority Leader, Kurt Zellers, Overheard at the Capitol, Tom Emmer
PIM spent some time phoning up a sampling of DFL House members to get their first-blush reactions to the election of Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) (pictured)as House minority leader last week. For starters, comity should not be an issue. Practically everyone mentions liking Zellers personally. Other words and phrases that popped up in describing him: Classic [...]
by Steve Perry
Published: June 2, 2009
Tags: Overheard at the Capitol, Tim Pawlenty
While the rumor that Gov. Tim Pawlenty would not run again was spreading around the Capitol complex this morning, we buttonholed and telephoned a handful of legislative staffers and members from both sides of the aisle to see which GOP legislators they expected to see leaping into the ring. Tops on the list, without question, is [...]
by Steve Perry
Published: May 28, 2009
Tags: Overheard at the Capitol
Much of the post-session buzz has revolved around the specter of legal challenges to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s expansive use of unallotment powers to balance the Minnesota budget. In short, a lot of people are betting there will be lawsuits. But so far no one from the sectors most likely to be affected–think health care and [...]
by Steve Perry
Published: April 2, 2009
Tags: Mary LaHammer, Overheard at the Capitol, Tom Hanson, TPT
It’s not always easy to do interviews for broadcast; any verbal gaffes go straight to video. Case in point: While introducing Management and Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson as a "man with many hats" on last night’s edition of TPT’s Almanac at the Capitol, reporter/anchor Mary Lahammer made special reference–very special reference–to Hanson’s role as federal [...]
by Steve Perry
Published: March 19, 2009
Tags: Federal stimulus package, Overheard at the Capitol
One of the most striking things about talking budget with members and staffers at the Legislature these days is the continuing confusion over what’s kosher and what’s not under the terms of the federal stimulus package passed last month. A month ago, chaos reigned at the Capitol as everyone scrambled to absorb the details of [...]
by Steve Perry
Published: February 26, 2009
Tags: Minnesota 2010-11 budget, Minnesota budget deficit, Overheard at the Capitol, Taxes
Last night I spent some time talking to a DFL House member who has attended some of the budgetary road shows ("listening sessions") that legislators have been staging around the state in the past week-plus. There was an air of surprise about his words. "Look," he said by way of preface, "the people attending these [...]
