Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 37 - 3/28/2008
No Budget Blow-Out
As we publish, the Senate DFL Caucus is about to make public its version of how to solve the state's $935 million budget deficit. While we don't know that plan, we do know this: Whatever the DFL proposes (either the Senate and the House or a budget the two bodies agree on), none of it matters greatly. As we begin the great "how does the session end?" game, remember we're only half-way through the state's biannual budget process. There won't be an ugly, high profile government shutdown.
Should the Democrats and GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty fail to come to a budget agreement, Pawlenty can veto whatever the Democrats send him and be done with it. [We cannot imagine a scenario where enough House Republicans side with the Democrats on budget bills.] If the session ends without an agreed-upon budget, then, to fill the gap, by law the Governor first has to spend down the budget reserve, and then he can "unaollot," meaning the Governor can direct that money allocated last year not be spent.
What would Pawlenty unallot? Pretty good clues can be found in the budget balancing plan the Governor announced the first week of March.
Don't Skol Vikings...
But Skol Vikings' lobbyists. They got their first down in reviving the dead horse that is building a new Vikings stadium with a surprise $2 million study amendment to the tax bill. The Vikings Capitol lobbying team includes the Vikings Lester Bagley, and contract lobbyists Ted Grindal and Rebecca Klett of Lockridge Grindal Nauen, along with contract lobbyists Brian Halloran and Larry Redmond of Redmond Associates.
MinnPost's Gerry Anderson has the details here. The Star Tribune's Mike Kaszuba captures the essence of the study amendment, "opponents immediately cast the move as a not-so-subtle step toward building a nearly $1 billion stadium for the Vikings that would need large doses of public money."
The opponents are right about that. The oldest trick in the lobbying book is to commit state funds to study a project as a means to making the state commit to the project. That usually works, if the study has been introduced as a separate bill and is heard in the usual committee process. Not here, and we think the Vikings overreached, and that the $2 million for the study is dead-on-arrival when the tax bills hit a conference committee.
That's because $2 million is on the high-end of the study scale, and what's in the study is hilarious: It's a Vikings dream list. The study provision is in section 24 of SF 2869, offered by Sen. Dan Larson (DFL-Bloomington) includes all the bells and whistles on the Vikings list including studying a retractable roof, accommodating NCAA men's and women's basketball, amateur and professional soccer, "amateur baseball," (we've already accommodated professional baseball), and our favorite, "community and cultural events."
That retractable roof will come in handy for winter solstice revelers enjoying a community and cultural event under the winter stars.
On a less sarcastic note, we checked with freelance writer Jay Weiner, who wrote the book on local stadiums, "Stadium Games," about what he thought about the surprise $2 million study. Weiner reminded us that he's long noted that the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission should be doing more studies, but that the Commission has gotten too close to the Vikings; and he agrees with GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty that a Vikings stadium has been studied to death.
But the most important point Weiner continues to make -- which seems to fall on deaf ears -- is why we need two football stadiums. We've seen several of Jay's presentations on the issue, and he's right. The Twin Cities and Minnesota are too small to support two football stadiums.
Celebrating 150 Years Of Dedicated Public Service
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (DFL) has a great idea to coincide with Minnesota's 150th birthday this May: He's inviting all former Secretaries of State to join him in a reunion to bring current and former employees together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the office and to recognize their years of public service. Ritchie (2007-present) will be joined by former Secretaries Arlen Erdahl (R, 1971-1975), Joan Growe (DFL, 1975-1999) and Mary Kiffmeyer (R, 1999-2007). To the best of the office's knowledge, the oldest living SOS staff is Mrs. Wille Tuvey of Watertown. Mrs. Tuvey, who will turn 100-years-old this July, worked for Secretary Mike Holm in the 1930s. [Holm served from 1921 until his death in 1952; interesting history about how his wife then served part of his term is here.]
Republican National Committee Update
The Republican National Committee (RNC) National Host Committee had a busy week. The committee named Kiersten Schroeder to serve as "Director of Delegate Experience." For sure, 2,380 delegates and 2,230 alternates will be descending upon the metro area September 1st-4th. But the committee is now expecting a grand total of nearly 45,000 to be in town for the convention. The RNC Welcoming Committee has extended its deadline to participate in the More to Minnesota GOParty Card. The GOParty Card entitles owners to discounts at Minnesota attractions from hotels to restaurants to golf courses and is designed to give visitors the chance to explore all Minnesota has to offer. Applications from statewide businesses are being accepted until May 1st at discounts@meetminneapolis.com or call 651-677-2008. Mpls.St. Paul magazine has also been selected by the Host Committee to produce the official guide book to the Twin Cities. The guidebook will be the center piece to the welcome packet given to every delegate, alternate, guest and media member upon their arrival.
Anti-Walz Surveillance Ads Stem From Boisterous Beltway Bloc P.O. Box
Down in the first Congressional District, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz's (MN-1) constituents saw some ads about the recent FISA surveillance bill battle in Washington. The ads were created and paid for by a new group dubbed "Defense of Democracies," which is located at P.O. Box 33249 in Washington, D.C. The ads, demanding that Democrats support the GOP-backed surveillance bill, were mainly run in districts held by freshman Democrats.
Some diggers on the liberal CD1 blog A Bluestem Prairie revealed that "Defense of Democracies" shares this P.O. Box with a number of ideologically similar Beltway hawk organizations, including the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, CLIME: The Center for Liberty in the Middle East, the Syrian Opposition Portal, as well as the autographed book special order address for "Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies Against America" by Dr. Walid Phares. Who knew that one P.O. Box could serve up such vast public relations powers in the War on Terror?
Additionally, National Journal reported that much of the $2 million in cash for the media buy came from New Jersey casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Adelson, with a net worth of $26 billion, (Forbes says he's #12 richest guy in the world) gives a lot of scratch to conservative ad-buying groups. The leftie TPMMuckraker newshounds reported that one of Adelson's benefactors, Freedom's Watch, which the Washington Post called a 'conservative answer to MoveOn,' is planning to spend $250 million attacking Democrats this fall. We'd bet Walz is on their short list of targets. The campaign which targeted Walz reportedly caused all the Democrats at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to quit.
That Lady Knows Our Rights
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Lorie Gildea will be speaking about the impact of the federal Bill of Rights on the formation and development of Minnesota's state constitution at a national symposium for state supreme court justices to be held in April, at Montpelier, the Virginia estate of President James Madison. The symposium is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education and the Center for the Constitution.
Gildea was a scholar on the impact of the Bill of Rights on criminal law when she was an editor of the American Criminal Law Review at Georgetown University Law Center 20 years ago. The Bill of Rights frequently came into play during her decade as the trial advocate for the University of Minnesota when issues of state sovereignty came into play. As a trial judge in Hennepin County, the delicate balance between personal liberty and societal security were daily issues in cases she decided.
With the retirement of Chief Justice Russell Anderson, Justice Gildea is the only current sitting member of the Minnesota Supreme Court who has experience as a trial judge who dealt with the Bill of Rights on a daily basis.
Minnesota Boxing Commission's Name KO'd by MMA Chokehold
The legislation (SF 3685/HF 3913) authored by Sen. Dave Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm) and Rep. Bob Gunther
(R-Faribault) to rename the Boxing Commission, the "Combative Sports
Commission" cleared policy committees in both bodies and now resides in
finance committees. The name change reflects the swelling popularity of
mixed martial arts fighting (MMA).
MMA,
known also as cage fighting or Ultimate Fighting (though the latter is
a trademark of a particular organization), is a combat sport that uses
a variety of fighting techniques, typically with fewer restrictions
than traditional boxing or wrestling. Striking with punches, kicks, and
knees is allowed as well as throws and holds. The perceived brutality
of the sport was once reason for some Minnesota cities to ban the
contests altogether, while around the nation U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) called on
governors to take action [see this 1999 Slate article], and a Brooklyn D.A. promised assault charges for MMA competitors.
In action, the
sport does seem more violent than a boxing match. Manic
crowds watch blood flow freely down foreheads while fighters choke
their opponents to submission. Some fights take place in a metal cage,
adding to the 'street brawl' reputation of MMA. But proponents are quick
to note the 2006 John Hopkins study
[.PDF link] that shows a lower rate of knockouts (and presumably
traumatic brain injuries) as well as newer limitations on the types
of strikes combatants are allowed to use—this means no hooking of
cheeks and ears, groin strikes, or blows to the neck or back of the
head.
Certainly, the sport's profile has come a long way in terms of organization and visibility. The Associated Press reported Thursday that Missouri is now sanctioning youth fighting events for children as young as 6. "Never Back Down," an MMA-themed film for teens, has hit theaters this Spring; "Redbelt,"
an R-rated picture, will soon follow, and CBS will soon become the
first major network to show a primetime MMA fight. The landmark CBS
agreement is expected to be an enormous success for the network and act as leverage for major deals among MMA organizations.
In Minnesota, mixed martial arts fights are as popular as they are in the rest
of the country. A number of gyms even train specifically for MMA
techniques, both as a competitive sport and as an athletic workout/self defense practice. A recent Star Tribune
article describes the welcoming, even family-friendly atmosphere of
some of these gyms, whose programs teach aspects of MMA from the most
brutal holds to coordination-building exercises for children. Even so,
the basic reality of the sport is hand-to-hand combat, and Minnesota
followed the lead of other states in passing a law that placed
MMA competitions under the administration of the Boxing Commission. Last
summer, MPR reviewed the changes to MMA fights
that came with this new law, including new schedules of competition
fees and health exams for fighters, as well as judges and doctors
provided by the Boxing Commission. Reaction was mixed to the law, with
both promoters and fighters ambivalent about the effects. Some were
grateful for the new oversight that included contractual agreements and
hospital coverage, and indeed had sought a solution to the
disorganization of the sport. Others were worried that new fees would
jeopardize the profitability of some smaller-scale MMA operations, or
that new regulations would remove the sport from its roots.
Good Faith Insurance Battles Return
The House wrestled with the "good faith" insurance
bill, again, this week. The bulk of the Republican caucus didn't like it, saying that it
would raise rates for consumers and price small businesses and farmers
out of the insurance market.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights), said that he learned new rules were needed after fighting insurance companies in court pro bono seeking to help his neighbor with a roof damage claim.
Atkins argued that insurance companies usually make a lowball offer to
settle claims; in his case, they offered about $8,000 for roof damage
claimed at $12 or $13,000. The math is simple: the difference between the lowball
offer and the total amount they claim is smaller than the cost of
hiring a lawyer and going to trial; thus, they are forced to settle for
less than they deserve. In other states, Atkins said, consultants were
showing insurance companies how to wield "boxing gloves" rather than
"good hands."
Atkins mainly supported Rep. Steve Smith's (R-Mound) complex amendment; the three-way argument between the Smith amendment, the Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL-Minneapolis) Senate version, and a rhetorical GOP effort to get rid of no-fault auto collision laws took an impressive amount of time. Smith, an attorney who bore the brunt of anti-lawyer personal attacks, which PIM debunked recently, said he was
"disappointed with the misinformation sent to us." His amendment
matched much of Scheid's bill, providing damage caps
which the insurance industry wanted.
The current system of complaining to the Department of Commerce doesn't
work, according to Atkins; out of hundreds of complaints, Commerce's
standard response is "get a lawyer."
Atkins waved around a print ad with a money-grubbing trial lawyer (resembling Rep. Lyle Koenen, (DFL-Clara City) Atkins joked), paid for by "Minnesotans Against Fraud and Higher Insurance Costs," which he said was purchased by the Insurance Federation of Minnesota and its president, Bob Johnson.
Rep. Drew Emmer (R-Delano) questioned whether third-party lawsuits might get drummed up, while the Senate bill seemed better. Rep. John Berns
(R-Wayzata) asked Atkins to explain the whole thing to him as if he
were a third-grader rather than a lawyer. "I'll give you more credit
than that!" Atkins shot back.
Towards the end of the floor debate, House Minority Leader Rep. Marty Seifert
(R-Marshall) ventured that he'd "stayed out of the battle of the esquires today,"
but had to jump in and suggest they deal with it at the committee level so that
"40 lobbyists aren't pulling us in and out" of the House chamber. Seifert would have
preferred just sticking with the Senate bill.
For
something as dry as an insurance policy lawyer tussle, this week's debate was fairly
entertaining, but much less personal than the last ugly round. There
isn't a lot of love in this state for insurance companies or trial
lawyers, Seifert joked.
Bits & Pieces
In case you missed it, a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence is coming to town in early May.
This summer, Gov. Tim Pawlenty will lead the Education Commission of the States' 2008 Forum on Education Policy (ECS) in Austin, TX. The forum gathers leaders from all levels of education together to discuss how to improve public education throughout the country. Created in 1965 the ECS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nationwide organization, that looks to identify and implement policies that help improve student learning at all levels. In more education news, John O'Brien was appointed acting president of Century College, O'Brien has served as the college's academic vice president since 2005. Also the three presidential finalists have been named for Metropolitan State University. The finalists are Kenoye Kelvin Eke, vice president for academic and student affairs at Cheyney University, Sue Kiefer Hammersmith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Joseph Sheley, provost and vice president of academic affairs at California State University-Sacramento. The board may act on the matter at a special meeting as early as April 16th.
The Jungle Theater's Production of the Rabbit Hole opens tonight at 8:00 p.m. and runs through May 11th. The David Lindsay-Abaire production was the winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize and features an all-star cast including Maggie Chestovich, Nancy Marvy, Amy McDonald, Mark Nelson and Jason Thomas and is directed and designed by Bain Boehlke. To order tickets call 612-822-7063 or visit www.jungletheater.com. Chestovich, who plays Izzy, is a spectacular actress despite (or probably because of) having PIM's Ricé Davis as a mother.
Join the Minnesota Women's Campaign fund for their 26th annual luncheon May 14th. The event will feature famed Washington Correspondent for BBC News and anchor on BBC World, Katty Kay. The lunch begins at 11 a.m. at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis. For more information visit womenwinning.org.
Here's an update on some of the more peculiar bills we have been following over the past few months. SF 2329 the proposed ban on mourning dove hunting was not taken up by the omnibus bill SF3385 and is considered dead at the moment. SF3385 does include SF3057 (Deer shining ban) and SF 2877 (Raccoon hunting). SF 3455 (Keg selling bill) passed out of committee and is waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. SF 833 (Cell phone consumer protection) got pulled from committee by Sen. Mary Olson (DFL-Bemidji) because it didn't have enough votes; Olson hopes to gather more support over the summer.
The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs will be holding a "Systems Thinking and Modeling for Public Policy Analysis" workshop. George Richardson, chair of public administration and policy at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University of Albany will facilitate the event. The workshop is an all day event on April 17th at a cost of $25. For more information or to register visit the College of Continuing Education website.
Saturday, March 29th at 8 p.m. Growth & Justice's Smart Investments in Minnesota's Students education summit will be featured in a documentary to be aired on TPT-Channel 17. The summit brought together more than 250 policy makers to discuss what investments have the most positive influence on the education system in the state. For more information regarding Growth & Justice or the documentary visit the Growth & Justice website.
Seven Minnesota cities were awarded grants for redevelopment by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The cities, Big Lake, Cold Springs, Dilworth, Gonvick, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Virginia received grants totaling $3,238,743 to aid in redevelopment of blighted industrial, residential and commercial sites. The grants will create 719 new full-time jobs and $5.2 million in property tax revenue.
3rd District Congressional hopeful Ashwin Madia won another endorsement this week. The latest comes from Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 7200. Madia is currently running against Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) for the DFL endorsement.
Calling all Libertarians! A reminder: the Libertarian Party of Minnesota's 2008 State Convention is April 13th. The Convention will feature speakers including Coleen Rowley, Craig Westover, Tim Slage and Doug Bandow. There will also be a buffet dinner. Register early at lpmn.org to reserve your spot.
Noted Northeast police-friendly beverage venue Scott's 1029 Bar got slapped with a lawsuit by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), along with 28 other bars nationwide. ASCAP told Sarah Askari at City Pages that licensing managers go around hitting up bars for an annual license fee, based on the venue's size (90 persons = $460.75). Karaoke-ing without a license can cause that evening's sing-along selections to land in court documents. On September 6, 2007, someone (undercover ASCAPs?) observed that "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Looking for Love" and "Runaway Train" got "performed" without an appropriate license. Our suggestion: Tell the suits that karaoke isn't really "performing" at all... because in order to perform, don't your sodden singers have to know the song beforehand? [And furthermore, would it be legal to sell tickets to see cops arresting other cops violating the karaoke rules?]
On Thursday, the Capitol cafeteria offered up Hormel SPAM® burgers; judging by the large number of unopened cans stacked above the fryer, they didn't win over the crowd too much. While perhaps they should save the SPAM® for Austin day at the Capitol, this was part of the Minnesota Grown promotion by the Department of Agriculture. The rosemary pork roast came from Pastures A Plenty in Kerkhoven and Dehn's Garden in Andover; the Red Lake Nation provided wild rice, and braised cabbage came from Joe Mast in Harmony.
Lobbyists can rest easier: they got new, smaller tables in their quarters on the Capitol's third floor. With more tables, there's a lot more working space for everyone to peddle influence!
Don't Judge This Book By Its Cover: Ruminations Go Deeper Than You Think
by Pam Steinle
Due to hit Barnes & Noble and B. Dalton bookstores next week is Win Borden's first book, Ruminations: Memories & Tales of a Furrowed Mind. Ruminations is a collection of short, inspirational memoirs, and to get the most from the book I suggest one read it bit by bit, taking time to reflect on each essay. Although the cartoon of farmer Borden on the cover suggests a light-hearted read, an underlying peace and hope permeates this book, causing readers to marvel at Borden's faith despite the dark periods of his life.
Borden has been a Minnesota political fixture for the past 50 years, during which he served three terms as a state senator, was the president of the Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry (now known as the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce), worked as a private attorney, and was a registered lobbyist.
The dark periods of his life include depression, alcoholism, and an 11 month-stint in a federal minimum security prison for failing to file income taxes. But instead of drowning in his mistakes, he confronted his problems and learned from them.
"I would not escape any tragedy I experienced because I am richer and better because of them," Borden concluded. "In life if you have not experienced the torrential rains you cannot fully appreciate the rainbows."
Readers hoping to find stories from Borden's flashy past of schmoozing with the rich, famous and powerful should look elsewhere (or perhaps in his upcoming historical fiction, "Hot Days. Hotter Nights," a sizzler he said will surprise even PIM publisher Sarah Janecek). In Ruminations, Borden has weaved stories of a more simple genre: memories of his childhood on the farm, recollections of a day in his current life working in his garden or perhaps reminding the reader to put their imagination to work today.
Borden's stories can be enjoyed by all - he had this twenty-something laughing out loud as he described life in the yard. An impromptu snooze on the lawn resulted in a young passerby rushing to his aid, since she assumed the man lying face-up must have suffered either a stroke or a heart attack. With good humor, Borden conceded the passerby must have thought that he was old, and encouraged readers to spend time with kids because, "they will make you feel young."
The 64-year-old author dabbles with the topic of aging throughout Ruminations, and plans to explore it more in his next book due out this Fall, "Cancel My Funeral. I'm Staying: A guide to growing older and loving it." Similar to Ruminations in style, Borden says the book is full of practical short stories aimed at helping seniors deal with life as they age.
At the very least the book is a fun read full of unapologetic optimism. I admit, there is a cynic in me that rejects perpetually happy people, and normally a book like this would strike me as trivial. But that is the irony in Ruminations: Borden is not perpetually happy. Based on our interview, I believe that each day, Borden consciously decides whether he will dwell on the bad or look for the good, and his essays represent those days when the good won out. Knowing this, his essays take on meaning, because they are the result of a daily struggle that I can relate to: How can I preserve the memories of the good days to get me through the bad ones? With this in mind, Borden did his best to capture every detail for his sake, and for ours.
Ruminations is currently available in 150 bookstores in Minnesota and Wisconsin, or online.
Lobbyist Watch
From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board:
Morning Reports
