SO LONG CIVILITY  
THE HOUSE CHUCKED OUT CIVILITY DEBATING ITS FIRST BIG BILL PROVIDING TAX RELIEF AND FEDERAL CONFORMITY:

REP. SEIFERT: "THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ARE WANDERING IN THE DESERT OF HIGH TAXES."

REP. RUKAVINA: "YOU’RE WANDERING IN A DESERT SEEING MIRAGES, DOLLAR SIGNS THAT AREN’T THERE."

REP. SERTICH: "SO STARTS THE FOOD FIGHT AND THE 10 SECOND SOUND BITES"
posted by mary at 9:05 AM

NO COMMISSIONER SVIGGUM  
Gov. Pawlenty announced his final commissioner appointment today and it's not Steve Sviggum. Many are shocked that the former House Speaker did not get a big appointment for his former colleague and close friend who took some big hits for the governor. It's hard to imagine Sviggum toiling away in the minority. Here's the news release:

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS PAT ANDERSON TO HEAD DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

~ She will oversee merger of department and ‘work herself out of a job’ ~

St. Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today appointed former State Auditor Pat Anderson as Commissioner of the Department of Employee Relations (DOER), filling the last remaining Cabinet-level position in the Pawlenty Administration.

posted by mary at 2:03 PM

HOUSE PRIORITIES  
House DFLers released their top priorities today and the first bill would cover all kids with health insurance. They also want full-day kindergarten for every school district and more to the formula that funds k-12 education. Property taxes would decrease and 25% of energy would be renewable by 2020. What's missing from the House priority list is transportation and the tax increases that could accompany transportation plans like they do in the Senate. House Minority Leader Marty Seifert accused the House DFL of "hiding behind the liberal skirts" of the Senate when it comes to tax increases. The House is talking fiscal moderation and shying away from tax increases. The House is up for re-election in two years and the Senate has 4 years to hear from voters. I think there are also more moderates in the House from swing districts that could turn back a lot of tax increases in light of a $2 billion surplus. You do have to hand it to the DFL for pounding their issues "education, healthcare and property taxes" and now following through, at least vaguely since we don't know how much will be spent or exactly where the money will come from. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher is a woman that is certainly on message.
posted by mary at 1:24 PM

TRUST THE BRAIN TRUST  
The Brain Trust is what we call our collection of essays by political opinion leaders. There's lawmakers, bloggers, think-tankers, media observers and many more. We wanted to hear from interesting, fun and smart people during the legislative session. All of this is housed on the new Almanac: At the Capitol site. I think we've gotten some great comments. The often-read, often-criticized man behind Minnesota Democrats Exposed Michael Brodkorb surprised many of his readers by declaring All I Want this Session Is True Bipartisanship. That already has the folks who lead the DFL's rebuttal at MNPublius livid. Fun! The question I've been asked a lot is if social issues are dead at the Capitol. Most reporters and analysts are thinking that the G's (guns, gays gynocology, gambling) will just be left alone. But Robin Marty writes that she thinks the 24 waiting period for abortion should be rolled back in her essay What's Up With The Womb. Brilliant media mind John Rash urges us to think global and act local when it comes to education. Former Senator Ember Reichgott Junge seems to gently poke at Poge by writing "while it is good to let 'individual committee chairs do their work,' we need to know the vision first." And Former Representative Fritz Knaak wins my award for the best written post:

'You can't change the direction of the wind...but you can adjust your sails..."

(Ah, yes! Sailing metaphors always work so well in politics, as in life.)

Having just about grounded himself with the national Republican shipwreck this November, Tim Pawlenty has read the political winds and tacked to the center so hard the pans are rolling in the galley.

Good move.

Look for posts from lawmakers Sertich, Seifert, Ortman and Higgins in the near future.
posted by mary at 12:19 PM

FIRST LADY FREE TO CAMPAIGN  

FIRST LADY MARY PAWLENTY accepts new position

~ Will be taking position with National Arbitration Forum ~

St. Paul – First Lady Mary Pawlenty announced today that she will be resigning from her position as a District Court Judge effective February 12 to become General Counsel for the National Arbitration Forum, one of the nation’s largest providers of out-of-court dispute resolution services.

“Serving as a district court judge has been an incredible honor,” First Lady Mary Pawlenty said. “Minnesota has one of the finest judicial systems in the nation. After 12 years as a judge, I’m looking forward to starting the next chapter in my career, which will continue to focus on dispute resolution.”

--That's the press release from the governor's office. This means the first lady is now free to campaign, perhaps for her husband for vice president? Interesting that this career change happens after the gubernatorial campaign.

posted by mary at 7:38 AM

INAUGURAL DAY  
Gov. Pawlenty and other constitutional officers have offically taken office. They took the oath at a ceremony at the Fitz on a stage that looked like the remnants of the set from the South Pacific. Beyond the tropical look, the tone was conciliatory as Pawlenty called for "civility and positive change." He's continuing the move to the middle and even used the term "progressive" in his address. The governor also focused on two "mission critical" issues: energy and education. This is new focus for the former lawmaker who had been criticized for forming too many commissions/study groups on two many issues. I talked to several Pawlenty friends, family and supporters afterwards. One of the most interesting comments came from a TPaw supporter who said "we'll see how far we can get him" referring to vice presidential buzz. Some others who want Pawlenty for higher office are concerned that he's hitching his star too closely to McCain. On the DFL front, three new constitutional officers where sworn in including the first female Attorney General Lori Swanson. Swanson's boss Mike Hatch has agreed to stay on in the office in yet to be determined role. Speaking of specifics, or the lack there of, Senate DFLers rolled out their top priorities for the session ( #1 property tax reform, #2 affordable healthcare, #3 early childhood education, #4 energy independence, #5 transportation, #6 environment). It's a smart move to announce this today and take some of the attention away from the Republican governor. It's not smart to lack any details about what those top priorities are, it's hard to ask questions and inform people when you don't have information.
posted by mary at 11:59 AM

Pawlenty in D.C.  
I just spotted Gov. Tim Pawlenty in the front row in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda at Pres. Gerald Ford's funeral. He is right next to the choir and got some serious face time on national television. He's been on camera at least half a dozen times and could be seen wincing as the elderly gentlemen just passed out. So why would a relatively little-known Minnesota governor get such a prominent spot at an important national event? Who knows, but it could have something to do with raising his profile as a national leader and vice presidential candidate.
posted by mary at 4:51 PM