Everyone got something in closed-door budget deal

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders gathered at the Capitol on Sunday (May 18) afternoon to announce an overall budget agreement that should usher in an orderly end to the 2008 legislative session.

Everyone got something in the closed-door deal.

Pawlenty can point to a three-year property tax cap, bonding for the purchase of land on Lake Vermilion for a new state and to improve the Minneapolis Veterans Home, as well as tax relief for veterans as key pieces of his agenda find their way into law.

But Democrats, too, can point to objectives gain - bonding for Central Corridor, additional local government aid, an expansion state health insurance eligibility, for instance.

Both Democrats and the governor look back with fondness.

"I think we've been the most productive Legislature in a very, very long time," said House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis.

Very productive session

Pawlenty styled the closing session as "a very productive session."

House and Senate must now pass the legislation today (Sunday, May 18) - House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, indicated that he couldn't muzzle his caucus but expressed the desire for a speedy end.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, Assistant Minority Leader Betsy Wergin, R-Princeton, and House Tax Committee Chairwoman Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Although the lawmakers would not specifically cite percentages in discussing the property tax relief - data runs were still to be completed, they pointed out - Pawlenty opined that the relief package should reduce the growth of property taxes by about 30 percent.

On the additional bonding, Pawlenty explained that the bonding bill will still be within the $825 million general obligation bonding target he had argued for.

Credit to Speaker Kelliher

In the banter among the gathered leaders, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, gave greatest credit for the achieving the budget agreement to Kelliher.

"I would give my largest kudos to the Speaker of the House," said Pogemiller, who praised Kelliher for the ability to withstand political hits and keep going.

Pogemiller also praised Pawlenty.

"The governor and I have had a challenging relationship over the years," said Pogemiller, praising the governor for his rationality over the course of the budget talks - Pawlenty jokingly asked whether the majority leader was implying he had previously been irrational.

Kelliher said she believes there's enough time left to the session to finish the bills.

"We are in very, very good shape," she said.