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| "I do not believe sending a survey or menu of items to legislative leaders is the most productive or effective way to address the state's challenging issues," Dean Johnson wrote to Pawlenty in a letter released Tuesday. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum) |
St. Paul, Minn. — Last week, Gov. Pawlenty sent the four leaders what a "menu" of 11 potential special session topics, and asked them to check which issues their members would support. He said he would only call a special session if the leaders agreed on the agenda ahead of time, and returned his special session menu.
That didn't happen, although Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum indicated he'll bring his checklist to Thursday's meeting. Both he and Senate Republican leader Dick Day say most of their members don't want a special session. But Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung singled out DFL leaders for criticism, saying it appears they aren't willing to commit to a limited agenda as the governor insists.
"If they're unwilling or unable to fill out the checklist that the governor offered, the governor's inviting them to his office and he'll help them fill out that checklist if that's what it takes," McClung said.
DFL leaders say instead of sending out a questionaire, the governor should meet with leaders face-to-face to discuss the various options. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson says the checklist reminded him of the special interest questionnaires sent to legislators.
"And I think more and more people are more reluctant to fill out questionnaires, because situations and circumstances and facts change, and to indicate something today that binds you for tomorrow. And I think the governor of all people should know that," Johnson said.
Johnson was referring to the no-new-taxes pledge Pawlenty signed as a candidate. Johnson himself supports at least two of the items on Pawlenty's menu -- new stadiums for the Twins and the University of Minnesota Gophers -- but Johnson says his caucus members are all over the map on the stadium issue.
Senate Republican Leader Day says he couldn't return the checklist, because two-thirds of his members are opposed to a special session, no matter what's on the agenda. He says he's not getting calls urging a special session, and he says the public is telling lawmakers to stay away from the Capitol.
"'Stay out of there. We're sick of you guys.' That's basically it: 'we're just sick of you. Stay away. Get out of here,'" Day said.
Day says he thinks the issues on Pawlenty's checklist, including the stadium bills, can wait until next session.
St. Olaf political science professor Dan Hofrenning says a special session is a risky prospect for the governor and legislators.
"Obviously the tardy end of the last special session leading to a partial government shutdown produced an outcome that no one seemed to benefit from. In addition, I think the consistent public opposition to public funding of sports stadia also contributes to the riskiness of it," Hofrenning said.
Some lawmakers who do support a special session say if the Legislature could meet and quickly pass a handful of bills, it would improve their image as a dysfunctional group.
Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, suggests a one-day special session, without pay, for lawmakers to pass a Gophers stadium bill.
"There's still a bit of a hangover from the gridlock of earlier this year, and I feel some of that too! But I guess my suggestion is that one way to get over those bad feelings and that gridlock is to work on things that we already know we have a concensus on," he said.
Still, Michel and many legislators think the odds of a special session are getting slimmer by the day. Pawlenty has indicated mid-October is the crucial time to decide whether to call a special session.
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