Extra innings for state legislature

Far apart on a bevy of state spending decisions, Minnesota lawmakers ended their regular session without agreement last week and were immediately called back into special session by Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R).And it’s Pawlenty, according to State Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake), who holds most of the cards as legislative leaders try to broker deals on issues ranging from education funding to health care.“I’ve heard (State Sen.) Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) say it many times, ‘the governor usually gets what he wants,’” Dill said Wednesday. “And that’s where we’re headed. We’re fighting for the people based on what they told us, to get the best deal we can and go home. But right now it’s such a horrendous deal.”Pawlenty, who has both veto power and allies in the Republican-controlled Minnesota House, is holding firm to his pledge against tax increases.The parties remain apart over funding for public education and nursing homes, as well issues specific to the region - such as a proposal to repeal the phaseout of taconite aid to local governments.Pawlenty has offered to support a 75-cents-per-pack cigarette fee with two-thirds of the roughly $380 million it would generate being earmarked for public schools.But in exchange, Pawlenty wants Democrats to trim spending from their health care bill and adopt policy initiatives including a ban on teachers’ strikes during the school year, adopting initiative and referendum, expanding school choice options and supporting a state sponsored casino in partnership with some northern Native American tribes.“His proposal comes with strings,” said Dill. “And the strings are political things he couldn’t get passed under normal circumstances.”Republicans have also proposed increases in local property taxes -rather than jumps in state assistance - to help fund increased spending in public education.The end result after four months in session is a standoff that could push up against a June 30 deadline, when state government could shutdown if an agreement is not reached.In calling the special session, Pawlenty told lawmakers to ‘do their job.’Dill is one of many Democrats to take exception to Pawlenty’s characterization of the legislative session.“The real story is in the last three weeks of the session I received 3,544 e-mails,” said Dill. “The theme of those e-mails, the common thread was we don’t want more teachers laid off, we don’t want less curriculum for our kids, we don’t want larger class sizes, we don’t want our property taxes to go up because of school funding and that it’s the responsibility of the state. We don’t want our hospitals cut anymore because if we lose our hospital we lose our ability to keep our economic climate stable. Our transportation system is falling apart. We’re here because those 3,544 people e-mailed me and told me this was worth fighting for.”Both Pawlenty and lawmakers back increased funding for K-12 education, but they remain at odds over how large the increase may be, how funds may be used, and where the money will come from.“The biggest stumbling block is that we need more funding in the (per student) formula,” said Dill. “We aren’t keeping up with inflation, and what’s being proposed doesn’t reverse the cut took in 2003.”Other issues that figure to be addressed during the specials session include transportation funding and a stadium bill.The legislature approved a 10-cent gas tax increase, but it was vetoed by Pawlenty and lawmakers don’t have the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.A deal to allow Hennepin County to collect a 0.15 percent sales tax for a Twins stadium also faces scrutiny. The ballpark would open in 2009 in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, and the tax - which amounts to 15 cents on a $100 purchase - would generate $353 million. At issue is whether the legislature will allow the tax without a countywide referendum.Dill said he expects most of the major decisions to push up against the June 30 government shutdown deadline.“We’re down there because the people want us there,” said Dill. “We could have settled for what was offered. It would have been a lot easier to vote for this and go home, but this is worth fighting for.”