SESSION WEEKLY A NONPARTISAN PUBLICATION MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES • PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES VOLUME 24, NUMBER 17 • APRIL 27, 2007 VETO: THE STAMP OF DOOM INVADING SPECIES A TAXING SITUATION HF2444 - HF2456 SESSION WEEKLY Session Weekly is a nonpartisan publication of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services. During the 2007-2008 Legislative Session, each issue reports House action between Thursdays of each week, lists bill introductions and provides other information. No fee. To subscribe, contact: Minnesota House of Representatives CONTENTS Public Information Services 175 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. HIGHLIGHTS St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 Agriculture • 5 (651) 296-2146 or (800) 657-3550 or the Environment • 6 Industry • 9 Minnesota Relay service at 711 or Bonding • 5 Government • 7 Local Government • 9 (800) 627-3529 (TTY) Crime • 5 Greater Minnesota • 8 Transportation • 10 www.house.mn/hinfo/subscribesw.asp Education • 6 Health & Human Services • 8 Late Action • 11 Energy • 6 Housing • 8 Notes • 11 Director Barry LaGrave Editor/Assistant Director Lee Ann Schutz BILL INTRODUCTIONS (HF2444-HF2456) • 22 Assistant Editor Mike Cook Art & Production Coordinator FEATURES Paul Battaglia FIRST READING: The Legislature’s most dreaded four-letter word • 3-4 Writers Nick Busse, Craig Green, AT ISSUE: Health care and human services finance bill would cover all kids • 12-13 Stephen Harding, Sonja Hegman, AT ISSUE: More government online services proposed in state funding bill • 14-15 Patty Ostberg, Mia Simpson Chief Photographer AT ISSUE: Omnibus tax bill not well received by minority party • 16-17 Tom Olmscheid AT ISSUE: Higher education bill includes controversial provision • 18-19 Photographers FEATURE: Exotic species threaten state ecology, economy • 20-21 Andrew VonBank, Sarah Stacke Staff Assistants RESOURCES: Minnesota Senate roster and representatives by district • 23 Christy Novak, Joan Bosard MINNESOTA INDEX: Growing organics • 24 Session Weekly (ISSN 1049-8176) is published weekly during the legislative session by Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services, 175 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Periodicals postage paid at Minneapolis, Minn. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Session Weekly, House Public Information Services, 175 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Printed on recycled paper which is 50% recycled, 30% post-consumer content. On the cover: Casey Clare McLaughlin listens as Rep. Brita Sailer reads “Who Says Woof?” during the annual read-a-thon in the Capitol Rotunda April 25. —Photo by: Tom Olmscheid FIRST READING Veto: the stamp of doom A brief history of the Legislature’s most dreaded four-letter word BY NICK BUSSE his is where the session gets interesting. With the May 21 constitutional adjournment deadline looming, legislators could still have their toughest work ahead of them. Following a week of marathon floor sessions marked by long Tand sometimes arduous debates, House and Senate members sat down together in conference committees this week in hopes of hammering out agreements on a series of omnibus finance bills that together comprise the state budget. FILE PHOTO BY TOM OLMSCHEID Gov. Jesse Ventura used this pig stamp to veto items in bills he considered pork. Tasked with working out compromises needs to be common sense — and stop living between House and Senate versions of bills, in fantasyland.” of Gov. Arne Carlson. During his two terms in conference committees can be long and House Majority Leader Tony Sertich (DFL- office from 1991-1999, Carlson, a Republican, complicated affairs. In the days and weeks to Chisholm) acknowledges the governor’s exercised his veto power 179 times — more come, legislators will have to barter, negotiate, existence, but has no intention of serving as than the previous 11 governors combined. For bargain and bicker with each other to get their a “rubber stamp” for him. comparison, in his first four years in office, bills in order before they can finally be whisked “Members, we’re the House of Pawlenty vetoed just 16 bills. away to the governor’s desk for signature. Representatives. We don’t live in a monarchy At one point, Carlson’s staff was so busy Once they get there, however, many of them where, when the governor says ‘jump,’ we say preparing the governor’s veto statements that are likely to be vetoed. ‘how high.’ It’s our responsibility to actually they hung a banner in their office reading Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vowed not to sign put our own budget together,” Sertich said. “veto command center.” Former House any budget bill that would result in a tax Speaker Bob Vanasek (DFL-New Prague), who increase — which, this year, is just about all of Executive privilege served as speaker during part of Carlson’s first them. Moreover, despite having warned DFL The veto — the power of the governor to term, said Carlson used the veto differently legislators against things like tuition breaks reject bills passed by the Legislature — has than other governors. for illegal immigrants and domestic partner been used sparingly thus far by Pawlenty, who “I was there when Al Quie was governor with benefits for gay and lesbian state employees for the first four years of his administration a DFL Legislature, and his number of vetoes — both of which are tucked into budget bills has enjoyed the support of a Republican- was far fewer than what Governor Carlson this year — the governor and the Legislature controlled House to counterbalance the DFL- employed. So, I think it was a different way appear to be on a controlled Senate. of viewing his veto power. And he was much collision course. In the days and weeks to come, legislators T h i s y e a r , more aggressive, obviously, in using it than House Minority however, he doesn’t his predecessors,” Vanasek said. Leader Marty Seifert will have to barter, negotiate, bargain and have that luxury. Bernie Omann, a former House member (R-Marshall) has bicker with each other to get their bills in or- DFLers now hold who also served as Carlson’s chief of staff, been sounding the der before they can finally be whisked away an 85-49 majority said Carlson used the veto as a tool of alarm. to the governor’s desk for signature. in the House and negotiation. “I would tell you 44-23 majority in “It’s all a part of the negotiations process, that there is no way the Senate — just at the end of the day.” that this bill is going to be signed by the five House members and one senator shy of Omann said that Carlson generally tried governor,” Seifert proclaimed during an the two-thirds majority required to override to warn legislators ahead of time when he April 19 floor debate of the omnibus state a veto. intended to veto a bill, so there were few government finance bill. “Please, at some The last time Minnesota saw its legislative surprises. And while a standoff between point, acknowledge that there is a governor and executive branches controlled by two the governor and the Legislature may look — that there needs to be compromise, there different parties was during the administration First Reading continued on page 4 April 27, 2007 Session Weekly 3 PHOTO BY TOM OLMSCHEID Surrounded by commissioners and legislators, Gov. Tim Pawlenty brings the veto stamp down on a 2005 bill that included an increase in the state gas tax. First Reading continued from page 3 (Ventura ran as an Reform Party candidate, “When you get to the end of the session, later joining the Independence Party of legislators are going to want to go home on chaotic to the public, Omann described the Minnesota.) time. And if you do have a situation where the communication between the governor’s office Currently, the Republican minorities governor does veto one or more of the major and the Legislature in both the House bills, and there is a vote on an override, I think as “continuous.” and Senate have there will be some pressure to vote to override “It ’s c le a rly a The last time Minnesota saw its legislative some authority, in in order to get the work of the session done,” shared governance, and executive branches controlled by two dif- that they have the he said. and it’s not compli- ferent parties was during the administration power to sustain How will the end of this session play cated if there’s com- of Gov. Arne Carlson. During his two terms in the governor’s veto. out? Vanasek and Omann are cautiously munication. It gets Despite this, Omann optimistic. complicated when office from 1991-1999, Carlson, a Republican, and Vanasek both “I think it’s been extremely civil, in the communication exercised his veto power 179 times — more say that the minority public discourse, between the Legislature breaks down.” than the previous 11 governors combined. For party has little direct and the governor. I can remember situations comparison, in his first four years in office, power to influence where things were a little more stressed than negotiations. they currently are today. I think everybody’s Negotiations Pawlenty vetoed just 16 bills. O f c o u r s e , a “I assume that been very respectful of each other during this gubernatorial veto t h e y w o u l d b e process. … It’s just going to be a matter of does not necessarily ensure that a bill cannot involved in negotiations, but the real power putting things together at the end of the day,” become law. A vote of two-thirds of the is between the majority leadership and the Omann said.