Home » Politics in Minnesota: Weekly Report: 2005 » Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 1, Issue 27 - 11/18/2005

Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 1, Issue 27 - 11/18/2005


In this issue: PIM In China; Business Is Back, But Which Way Will It Cut? Lourey's Announcement; Will Gambling Be Back? What Happens If Zimmerman Isn't Indicted? Bits & Pieces

Read Co-publisher Sarah Janecek's reports from Governor Pawlenty's mission to China.

Business Is Back, But Which Way Will It Cut?

In the past few years, and elections, business has been forced to the sidelines as more narrowly focused groups, like the Taxpayers League and the Minnesota Family Council, have had their influence on the GOP.  Similarly, the DFL remains a party process much controlled by the interests of organized labor and activist groups tied to choice and gay equality.

A recent poll of business done by Himle Horner, in conjunction with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, released this past September, found that:

  • Sixty-two percent of all respondents believe the legislative perform ance is "just fair" or "poor" and blame both parties for the rating.
  • Forty-six percent of respondents chose health care as their top concern.  Nineteen percent chose it as their second biggest concern.
  • Forty-two percent believe traf fic is worse than it was two years ago, and fourteen percent chose it as one of their top two issues.
  • Taxes were the second most important issue in the poll; other prominent issues were jobs and K-12 education.

Read the full poll presentation [PDF].

But, it appears as though business is reemerging as a force in Minnesota politics, and it is headed right down the middle.  This week, the Governor's trip to China had a notable business tone, focused as it was on trade and economic expansion.  Similarly, a group of businesspeople, called the Itasca Group, sponsored an initiative called Close the Gap, in response to the results of a study conducted by the Brookings Institution.  The initiative highlights the business case for confronting regional socio-economic disparities, and issued a challenge to the region to close these gaps so they will not continue to threaten Minnesota's quality of life and regional economic competitiveness. The initiative was launched at an event hosted by every business group you could imagine.

The unique portion of the initiative is the "toolkit" that accompanied the launch.  The kit contains practical suggestions for employers and others to use to help "close the gap" in these disparities.  In other words, let's do something about it.

But the reports come at a time when health care, transportation and education, are at or near the top of most of the state and local Chambers of Commerce agendas.   (Publishers note: Blois Olson's PR firm, New School Communications, works for the TwinWest and Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce).  Also on the agenda: stadiums.  In most surveys, the issues above are ahead of, or on par with, taxes as a major concern facing business.  We know that this doesn't mean that taxes aren't important to business, they are.  Business is beginning to need the state to address the other issues of importance, in order to stay competitive.

As WCCO Radio host Dark Star has pointed out on air, certain GOPers and civic stalwarts--many members of the very influential "Dunkers" group that support U of M sports--who meet regularly to hear local coaches and others talk about the topics of the day, are quite upset about the lack of progress and what they perceive as the Governor's lack of leadership on stadiums.  Meanwhile, many of these same business people believe that if Attorney General Mike Hatch got elected, not only would it take him out of the Attorney General's office where he can cost them a lot of mon ey through investigations, lawsuits, and the like, but that he could likely get things done in a truly bipartisan way.

Overall, business groups are still going to back the governor. But, as their issues emerge at the top of the debate, many members are going to look at the answers of the candidates. Next year, there is a great chance that those issues will be at the forefront, with candidates pushing new plans.

Lourey's Announcement

When State Sen. Becky Lourey (D) announced this week that she was officially a candidate for governor, the race for the endorsement got much more competitive.  Attorney General Mike Hatch and State Sen. Steve Kelley (D) have a variable that neither wanted to deal with, a woman who is more liberal than either of them. 

Her candidacy means that both Hatch and Kelly have to work even harder to turn out their people to the caucus and eventually to the state convention.  The reason:  the 2004 caucus and presidential election brought a more progressive shift in the DFL activist base.  Younger, more energized liberals are much more interested in grassroots campaigning than mon ey, media and moderation.

DFL Chair Brian Melendez's election was the first sign these new activists had garnered influence over the party.  Next year will be the test to see if they can keep their influence. If caucus turnout drops, or if the youthful anti-Bush caucus-goers don't show up because it's not a presidential year, Hatch and Kelley will be in better shape than they would otherwise. We don't think the new activists will be as big of an influence this time around.

While Lourey is likely to be a more competitive candidate this year than she was in 1998, when she came in third in the battle between party switcher, former State Auditor Judi Dutcher and former Sen. Majority Leader Roger Moe, we must remember that was a year without a competitive endorsement for U.S. Senator.  The likely battle between Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and children's activist Patty Wetterling, will give the DFL a woman candidate, and a progressive on the ticket, meaning the DFL won't be as concerned about those issues when trying to find someone to beat Pawlenty.

Will Gambling Be Back?

Yes and no.  The time and political capital spent on gambling by all sides last session probably won't be possible or necessary in the upcoming session.  However, we are betting (pun intended) and hearing that Canterbury Park will push for a statewide referendum to add slots to the track, as they have attempted to do legislatively for the past five or six years.  The champion of that is likely to be GOP House Speaker Steve Sviggum.

But it is becoming more and more apparent that the governor is not likely to champion or talk about gambling much in the next session or the next election after making it a cornerstone of his original budget last year.  Why?  A few reasons.  The governor has already lost enough support from his base over the way he handled the issue last year.  This is the same base that pushed forth the No New Tax pledge, and since he has said he won't sign that next year, he can't abandon them on every issue.

Another reason is the Governor has been making the rounds with Tribal Governments throughout the state, and many in the meetings have said that his tone is apologetic.  This all makes sense as Pawlenty and his team try to find the issues for re-election that will make the governor comfortable in being himself, but also more moderate and less mean-spirited than he appeared last session.

What Happens If Zimmerman Isn't Indicted?

Minneapolis observers are waiting with bated breath to see if the Feds do anything with the documents they obtained when they raided Council Member Dean Zimmerman's house.  The raid, in the heat of the election between two incumbents, Zimmerman and Robert Lilligren, should have taken all the wind out of the sails of a candidate and his campaign.

Instead, observers in Minneapolis, say that it reignited the Green Party in that ward, as well as Zimmerman's strong base of neighborhood supporters.  Lilligren's 46 vote victory, will be quite contentious if nothing comes of the raid, and we would predict that Zimmerman becomes an even more influential and visible figure for the Greens to rally around.

Politics In Minnesota: Bits & Pieces...

After further thought and some family issues that require tending to, State Sen. Sharon Marko has decided against running for Congress.

The departure of Frank Vascellero and Ken Barlow from the anchor chair and "backyard" at KARE 11 this week, would appear to be good news for WCCO, which is leading in the current sweeps period.  KARE, long the number one station, could go the way of channel five, as they are likely to soon have very little "home-known" talent.

In case you missed it, State Representative Jerry Dempsey (R- Red Wing) will not seek re-election next year, in what is sure to be a targeted seat by both the DFL and GOP.  Rep. Dempsey holds the seat in District 28, represented by Sen. DFLer Steve Murphy, in what is thought to be a very competitive district.

Longtime Pfizer lobbyist Tom Schmidt, has taken a new position with the Taxpayer's League of Minnesota as a vice president.  We hear Schmidt has been making the rounds and using old relationships to find new supporters for the League's efforts.

We have been remiss in not noting the departure of our dear friend, Ruth Koscielak, from the airwaves.  Her entrepreneurial venture proved to be too much work in the end, but she always tried to keep politics at the top of the discussion, which we appreciated.  After all, one of your publishers owes his marriage to Koscielak, who set him up on a blind date with his wife.