Commentary; Posted: 5/12/04

In St. Paul, finding consensus hard

T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

If political positioning translated into physical exercise, paunches tightened at the Capitol last week.

The week began with Senate DFLers hinting the Senate might go sine die if House Republicans didnít become more reasonable.

The week close with an animated House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, comparing the negotiation impasse between House and Senate to the trial of a young swain asking a girl out on a date who just isnít interested in dating.

Whatís a guy to do? The romance is gone.

As of late week, Gov. Pawlenty was playing the role of a referee hesitant to blow his whistle. Yes, he outlined the inherent power of his office to reassemble the Legislature should a set of legislative leaders plan an early departure.

He also expounded on his ability to cancel state projects to balance the budget, again if lawmakers headed for the Capitol exits prior to May 17. And he can be very selective which projects are cancelled, he menacingly pointed out.

Lawmakers heard the threat. But Senate DFLers remain combative.

On Friday, Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, capital bonding chair with eight Senate terms under his belt, called a conservative Republican ìdishonestî for his procedural maneuvering with a same-sex marriage ban amendment. Lawmakers generally do not move beyond words like ìdisingenuousî or ìmisleadingî in describing the perceived falsehoods and treacheries of their political opponents.

So ìdishonestî is strong stuff.

The Republican denied he was just trying to force a vote on same-sex for political reasons, but Langseth didnít buy it.

ìOh no. Of course not,î Langseth spat back.

This is mentioned with the governor in mind and the certainty Senate DFLers this session have taken a different path than last.

ìPay no attention to the man behind the curtain,î one group of adventurers heard emanating from a gigantic image framed by columns of billowing smoke.

Unlike the first group of incorrigibles, Senate DFLers may take the advice.

The House will not adjourn early. The Senate still might.

No one in the state really knows when.

Coming to an end of session agreement has different levels of complexity. On a lower level is the scramble for power within the caucuses themselves.

Just last week, Sviggum, during a House tax committee debate on stadiums, exclaimed that some people seem to think heís an ultra conservative while others seem to think heís practically a socialist.

During the latter part of the comment, Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Shoreview, could be seen gently shaking his head ìNo.î

Whether the shake of the head was a delayed reaction to the first part of Sviggumís comment or a dismissal of the second part, Krinkie alone knows.

Krinkie has become a figurehead for Republican House fiscal conservatives. And to that extent, might be seen as a rival to Sviggum.

Beyond the backroom politics, the calcification of the Senate DFL backbone, is the sense at the Capitol that lawmakers are tepid on many issues.

Or put another way, lawmakers have their hearts set on very little this session.

Langseth has repeatedly said if an equitable agreement with House and governor on the bonding bill canít be reached, forget it.

Next session begins in January, not far away, he said. Things can wait.

Even hot button issues seem in the doldrums.

One of the lingering impressions a person gets watching the Twins/Vikings stadium debate is the general lack of excitement, enthusiasm, anger, or other emotions that might cause a heart to flutter.

When one actual sports enthusiast recently spoke during a Senate stadium hearing, the committee room was transfixed.

Itís a debate peopled by the money crowd, slick government types, lobbyists and an occasional celebrity.

And now the Twins are back on television.

This is not to say lawmakers are indifferent. Debate on social issues, such as same-sex, remain intense.

Gambling might explode as an issue this week.

But finding consensus is difficult when issues arenít overly compelling and itís politically in one bodyís best interest perhaps to remain stubborn and kicking.

Things may come together wonderfully this week, agreements be reached, closed doors swung open, and lawmakers return home May 17 secure in the knowledge The Peopleís work has been accomplished.

Anyway, sooner or later the place will clear out.

If the coo of the mourning dove sounds a bit more plaintive, a number of things beyond budget balancing may yet get done.

Top of Page