Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 1, Issue 7 - 6/10/2005

In this issue: No State Budget; Government shutdown looms, The Nuts and Bolts of a Shutdown, Does the "Normal Guy" Have a Chance?, Catching up with Rudy, Maple Grove Hospital in Prime Time: New Episode, Bits & Pieces..., 20 Years Ago, The Coming Week In Other Media, Setting The Record Straight

No State Budget; Government shutdown looms

Yesterday's DFL budget offer solidified the stall-out in budget negotiations. Several weeks ago, Republicans were banking on Democrats' acknowledging that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposed cigarette tax (the "health impact fee") was a significant concession on their part. Instead, Democrats continue to push for higher tax rates on high income earners, a measure that cannot pass the House and won't be signed by the Governor.

Perhaps the more striking aspect of yesterday's twist was how strident Sen. Maj. Leader Dean Johnson (DFL-Willmar) was about the Governor breaking his no new taxes pledge. Fiscal conservatives have been piling on Pawlenty ever since he proposed the cigarette taxes/fees. Pawlenty said that he's "burned substantial political capital." Johnson's many references to the tax pledge were the equivalent of throwing high octane gas on the fire.

However, Johnson and House Minority Leader Matt Entenza (DFL-St. Paul) offered at least one really good idea--the acceptance of 55-cents-per-pack of the Governor's proposed 75 cents cigarette tax/fee. The two offered that it might be a great idea to see if there were enough Republican votes on the House floor to pass. We agree. What, if any, tax or fee increase can pass the House is a mystery.

And, in the words of AM 1500's Joe Soucheray, another "ray of hope" yesterday was the Governor's suggestion that new legislators and moderates create a "rump" group. This tells us someone has been listening.

The Nuts and Bolts of a Shutdown

If state government shuts down, what, exactly, gets shut?

That all depends on defining what are "critical operations or operations in support of critical operations." The operating documents consist of an order signed by Ramsey County District Judge Larry Cohen days before a potential shutdown in 2001, in which he incorporated the analysis of DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch's office at the behest of Independence Party Governor Jesse Ventura.

Part of the order includes a 29-page analysis conducted by Hatch's office of all the state agencies. The highly detailed document is an interesting and complicated read. For example, in the Department of Agriculture, food inspections and agricultural chemical emergency response are deemed critical, but farmers market nutrition programs and grain and seed potato inspections are not.

It appears that the unresolved budget bills leave more than 40 state agencies in play--and potentially thousands of state employees. One big sleeper issue: if government shuts down, it actually will cost government new funds to pay accrued employee vacation and sick time. The initial estimate: $400 million.

Does the "Normal Guy" Have a Chance?

It's official. We have our first "normal" person in a campaign for statewide office, and his name is Kelly Doran. His profile as a real estate developer who has not been an activist makes the initial launch of his campaign something that could ignite the populist roots of Minnesota.

The only thing that isn't normal about Doran is his wealth, but by all accounts he is self-made (making it more admired wealth than plain old inherited), and that wealth and his willingness to spend some of it make him viable.

His hope is that he will get the chance to challenge likely GOP nominee, 6^th Dist. U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, who was a "normal" person when he challenged then-DFL U.S. Rep. David Minge and won in 1998. Minge was a normal guy when he ran and won in 1994, in the seat vacated by GOPer Vin Weber.

"Normal" might be a little harsh, but it is a label one of your publishers has used to try to get insiders and electeds of all stripes to think about the people who don't read this newsletter, or hang on the schedule--or lack thereof--during a legislative session.

We must say, on first blush, Doran is doing something right. His announcement got significant coverage for an outsider and we expect that he will be a plain-spoken business guy, which is something DFLers haven't seen on the ballot in quite some time. Not to mention you could see the savvy experience of John Wodele working with the idea that they hold the event on a Sunday in Oakdale in front of a construction site. A far cry from the Capitol, a school, or the childhood home that most politicos rely on.

And "normal" people have a tendency to triumph when they run; look at the basic record--Paul Wellstone and Jesse Ventura are the last two, and they brought out the populist passions of our state.

Doran also has something that successful businessman don't have--the support of unions. His support from St. Paul Building Trades leader Dick Anfang, who vouches for the fact that Doran has always used union labor in his projects, makes Doran a champion from the other side, something union members (who make up nearly 60 percent of DFL delegates) haven't had since Wellstone.

The union background, combined with his ability to lead and talk to white men (the majority of the workers at his construction sites), could make him a tough candidate for the starched, tightly wound Kennedy in key battleground areas like Anoka County.

The last normal person who ran and lost was Independent Jim Gibson, who got caught in the political tsunami that was the 2002 election--and he was more eccentric than the average Joe.

We expect that Doran is beginning to do some polling, and laying out a plan on how to succeed in a DFL primary against (at this point) two well-known women. And in a state that hasn't been a fan of insiders and opportunists--don't count the normal guy out.

Catching up with Rudy

Almost 200 "who's who" people in Minnesota public affairs attended the mock "swearing in" and gathering for former GOP Senator and current U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights Rudy Boschwitz held last Saturday night. Naturally, the only judge Boschwitz got to recommend to the federal bench, U.S. District Court Judge James Rosenbaum, performed the ceremony. Read a terrific recap of Boschwitz' career written by PIM friend and business associate Patrick Rosenstiel. Those making eloquent remarks included U.S. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman, former Boschwitz top aides Jann Olsten and Loanne Thrane, and Peter Hutchinson. The event was held not only to honor Boschwitz for his recent diplomatic work, but also for his life-time service on behalf of human rights and international understanding. It was sponsored by the International Conference Foundation, which periodically holds programs with nationally renowned speakers and runs numerous programs for international visitors to MN. Currently serving on its board are Kaye Braaten, Boschwitz, Peter Bell, Bill Fritts, Nate Garvis, John Himle, Hutchinson, Sandy Keith, Judge Marilyn Rosenbaum and Vin Weber. The group is well-served by the mostly volunteer executive director Barry Casselman, whose day job is national political analyst and commentator. Casselman also has a regular column in the Washington Times.

On Boschwitz, the consensus of all who attended is that Rudy is doing some of his best work in the U.N. job. Plus, he's taking the time to write interesting and detailed e-mail reports to those who want to receive them. His latest issue was about his recent trip to Vienna to serve as President George Bush's personal representative to celebrate Austria's 50^th anniversary of the treaty restoring the nation's sovereignty after World War II. Besides a rich recap of history, Boschwitz includes fun stuff like what it was like to stay in a $5,500-a-night Prince of Wales suite (compliments of the Austrian government) at the Bristol Hotel. The room also is a favorite of CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Writes Rudy, "Fancy is hardly the word. It is stunning. How Ellen [his spouse] and I are going to adjust to the Country Inn (Des Moines), the Comfort Inn (Milwaukee) and the Fairfield Inn (Indianapolis) when we visit our [HomeValu] stores is going to be a problem."

Maple Grove Hospital in Prime Time: New Episode

[Publishers' note: Skip this story if you're bored by the subject. But from the feedback we're getting, lots of readers are interested in how a high profile (there are more than three dozen lobbyists involved), high stakes, local issue like this one evolves.]

Last issue, we wrote, "Who needs "Desperate Housewives" when we have three desperate wannabe hospital builders in Maple Grove? We flagged a letter sent by Tri-Care (one of the three hospital-builder contenders comprised of a joint proposal between Park Nicollet Health System, Children's Hospitals and Clinics, and Allina Hospitals and Clinics) sent to North Memorial President and CEO David Cress objecting to the petition drive. Tri-Care accused North Memorial of "questionable behavior," including "A family member of a North Memorial patient reported that patients and families were urged over the public address system [at the hospital, emphasis ours] to write letters to their legislators and that a nurse would assist them, if requested. To facilitate this letter writing, laptop computers were made available in the hospital."

This week Cress wrote to PIM, accusing Tri-Care of attempting "to discredit North Memorial and our [highly successful 10,000-plus signature] petition drive. It was their own 'spin' of the facts." Specifically, on the activity in the hospital... "here are the facts. We did have computers set up off our lobby that were available to staff or visitors who voluntarily wanted to send a written letter of support for North Memorial to their legislators. This activity did not involve patients in their rooms, laptop computers or our nurses."

Another review of the Tri-Care May 17 letter, which was distributed to legislators and others, gives support for the misconduct. It alleges: "We have documented reports that describe serious misrepresentations of fact." In our view, somebody could, indeed, have said the egregious thing about lobbying in the hospital, and it would be a "documented report." Who knows?

However, we do know this: Factual misrepresentations in letters and flyers distributed to legislators are taken very seriously at the Capitol. A few years back, a liquor lobbyist had a flyer with the wrong facts distributed on the Sen. floor. [For novices to this stuff, this is a common practice; any legislator may have any document distributed on the Sen. or House floors.] Not only did that lobbyist have to leave the entity he was representing, but he also moved to another state because his credibility here was virtually destroyed.

Perhaps the good news in the hospital wars is that something will pass this special session, because if there's no new law of some type, then no new hospital. The House's position for North Memorial may be melded with the Sen.'s "let the Minnesota Department of Health decide and here are the criteria." The compromise may be that if North Memorial can meet the Sen. criteria, they get the hospital. If not, the others can bid on it.

Politics In Minnesota: Bits & Pieces...
--Tracking people and events--

[Publishers' note: Please e-mail us at staff@politicsinminnesota.com with anything we've missed or something that's coming up, or fax same to 651-293-9056.]

We'll predict that incumbent GOP Party Chair Ron Eibensteiner will be defeated by his challengers, GOP state party treasurer Ron Carey joining Washington County Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek.

If you visit only one link this issue, make it this one. City Pages Editor Steve Perry does a lovely, sensitive job of interviewing newly-outed Sen. Paul Koering (R-Fort Ripley), and allowing (and printing) Koering's long answers, complicated by the complexity of all the issues. Kudos to both Perry and Koering. By the way, we'll make our first 2006 election prediction: Koering will prevail big-time in 2006. Make no mistake, his district--smack dab in the middle of the state--boasts one of the state's most conservative bastions. However, conservative activists will miss what real people think: Wow, a politician who has the guts to tell his story, say what he thinks, let the chips fall where they may...that's my kind of guy and he's got my vote.

By the way, both the St. Paul Pioneer Press' Bill Salisbury and Patrick Sweeney and the Star Tribune's Dane Smith wrote equally sensitive and fine stories on Koering. But, we cannot link to them. Their stories are lost to most people in the paid archives and thus unlinkable.

We were so glad to run into Stephen Rocheford, the president and CEO of Lavender magazine, which bills itself as "Minnesota's GLBT Magazine." Glad because Rocheford flatly denied a long-time, widely circulating rumor at the Capitol that the magazine was planning to "out" Sen. Paul Koering (R-Fort Ripley). "Absolutely not true," said Rocheford. Rumor dead, we hope.

And congratulations to Rocheford and everyone at Lavender for celebrating their 10^th year in publication. The magazine recently bought an old church (8500 square feet of space) at 3715 Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis.

Thanks to a savvy reader for pointing out one very interesting item we missed. On Sen. Steve Kelley's (DFL-Hopkins) gubernatorial candidate Web site, nowhere does it mention that he's a Democrat. And, none of the endorsements are partisan-identified.

7^th Ward Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman has a clever new prop for the Gay Pride Festival: Boxes and boxes of Goodman-labeled ChapStick^(R). The parade is on June 26 during the day, and yes, the ChapSticks have a 15 SPF sunscreen.

Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak and his spouse Megan were seen dining at the new restaurant in Uptown called Stella's Fish Cafe and Premier Oyster Bar--which is in the space where Tonic was last summer. Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman and her husband joined the Mayor for a short time and kept the booth after the Mayor left. [Stella's is a client of PIM publisher Blois Olson.]

John Blackshaw is Mayor Rybak's new campaign manager. A veteran of the original Paul Wellstone team and former Tunheim Partners executive, Blackshaw will bring the necessary experience and discipline the campaign appears to have needed. Rybak supporters are still licking their wounds over their inability to secure the DFL endorsement for their incumbent candidate.

Governor Tim Pawlenty was seen rocking out at St. Paul's premier summer event, Grand Old Day, to the band GB Leighton which played at the Wild Onion. We hear the Governor is a regular at GB shows.

The Chicago media seem to have lost it when it comes to covering the trial of DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch's daughters. What a nightmare for the Hatch family. Fortunately, our media, for the most part, are playing it straight and not on the front page. And, just as Democrats didn't make political hay out of former GOP U.S. Senator Rod Grams' son, Morgan, and his troubles with the law, Republicans are doing the same with Hatch and his daughters. The case should have no political fallout in Minnesota.

Chicago Coverage:

• Chicago Tribune: Nightclub aides tell of sisters' behavior
• Chicago Sun -Times Columnist Mark Brown: It can matter who your dadd is, but not in this case
• Chicago Sun-Times: 'You could hear the smack' that officer got, guard testifies

The MnPASS hiccups could mean less success with trying to add similar lanes throughout Minnesota; however, we hear national firms are lining up to push more toll/pay-to-drive lanes next year.

Sam and Sylvia Kaplan will host a brunch for U.S. Sen. candidate and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar Sunday at their downtown home. The event invite was accompanied by a thoughtful note about their commitment to the Klobuchar campaign because of Amy's previous commitments to candidates over time. A nice touch.

Tonya Tennesen has joined the Kelly Doran for Sen. Campaign as communications director. Former Congressman Martin Sabo aide Olin Moore a veteran of the Janet Roberts and Patty Wetterling races in the 6^th Congressional District has joined Doran as finance director.

St. Paul native Bob Hume has joined Chris Coleman's mayoral campaign as communications director. Hume most recently worked for former Senator Tom Daschle's Sen. race in South Dakota.

We hear that Mike Ciresi is interviewing staff for a possible run for the U.S. Sen..

Politics In Minnesota: Lobbyist Watch
--Who is working what issues--

From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board

• Newly registered lobbyists
• Recently terminated lobbyists

Politics In Minnesota: 20 Years Ago
--How political time flies--

Prairie Home Companion host Garrison Keillor was roaming the halls of the Capitol lobbying for funding for the former World, and since-named Fitzgerald Theater.

The Legislature was also in a special session with the same dynamic where the GOP controlled the House, and Democrats the Sen.. Back in those days, it was not uncommon for conference committees to convene and work through the night.

Then GOP Rep. Cal Ludeman from Tracy started making plans to run for Governor in 1986, which he did, losing to incumbent DFLer Rudy Perpich. Here's a fun trivia question: Who was Ludeman's Lt. Gov. running mate? [Answer on the last page of this issue.]

Politics In Minnesota: The Coming Week In Other Media

[Publisher's note: Another new section we're adding: Most Minnesota public affairs junkies know about Almanac and At Issue, but there are lots of other regular venues out there (not the least of which are suburban and greater Minnesota cable television and radio political shows). Please e-mail staff@politicsinminnesota.com to tell us about them.]

Access to Democracy: Hosted by Alan Miller and produced by BECT.TV (Burnsville/Eagan Community Television; Channel 15 in those areas). This is one of the finest public affairs shows offered on cable. Miller books all the major statewide politicos as well many legislators and others in public affairs. 2^nd Cong. District U.S. Rep. John Kline (R) makes it a point to swing by every six to eight weeks. Miller--well-versed in Minnesota issues--runs great Q&A. Three years and 200 shows since its inception, the show is sponsored, in part, by U.S. Federal Cred it Union and Sun Country Airlines. Airtimes in the southern metro.

In his real life, Miller teaches screenwriting and film history at Minneapolis Community and Inver Hills community colleges. He recently created a new course, "Films of the Holocaust," that will be part of the permanent curriculum at both schools.

Almanac. Hosted by Erik Eskola and Cathy Wurzer. Find out what's on this week's show. Airs live at 7:00 p.m. Fridays on TPT Channel 2. Rebroadcasts are Saturday mornings at 1:00 a.m. and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. on Channel 2. You can also watch the current and past shows. Coming this week:

• Times are a changin' at the U - The Board of Regents votes today on proposed changes at the U of M that include the elimination of General College. President Bob Bruininks is our guest.
• Legislative Leaders - The special session is going nowhere. Republican Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum and DFL Minority Leader Matt Entenza talk about the lack of developments.
• Rain rain go away - Is this the rainiest spring we have ever had? We'll ask WCCO-TV meteorologist Paul Douglas tonight.
• TV Dinner Conversation with J. G. Preston - It's a fun new summertime feature on Almanac...tune in and see what J. G. and KARE-11's Frank Vascellaro are up to on our set.
• Kelly Doran for U. S. Sen. - He hasn't run for public office before but he wants to replace Mark Dayton as a Democratic Senator from Minnesota.
• Stillwater Prison Walking Tour - Late last fall, a local Stillwater historian showed our Mary Lahammer around town. The complete tour will be part of our community history series this coming fall but we'll give you a sneak peak tonight.
• Da Panel - This week's version of the political panel talks about the Special Session stalemate and the showdown tomorrow to elect a Republican party chair. Republicans Brian Sullivan and Sarah Janecek join DFLers Wy Spano and Mary Jo McGuire on the couch.

Almanac: At the Capitol. Hosted by Mary Lahammer. Not running during the special session, but we sure hope Mary has a safe delivery any day!

At Issue with Tom Hauser. Broadcast on Sundays at 7:00 a.m. on KSTP Channel 45 and at 9:00 a.m. on KSTP Channel 5. Coming this week:

• A recap of the week's political news.
• Political analysis with former DFL Governor Wendy Anderson and GOPer Annette Meeks from the Center of the American Experiment.
• Face-Off with DFLer Ember Reichgott Junge and GOPer and AM 1500's Dave Thompson.

WCCO Radio: The Pat Miles Show. 830 AM. Every Thursday morning about 9:30 a.m., politicsinminnesota.com publishers Blois Olson and Sarah Janecek visit with Pat to discuss the week's hottest political news.

Politics In Minnesota: Setting The Record Straight

See our story, above, Maple Grove Hospital in Prime Time: New Episode.

Former DFL State Rep. Betty Folliard called to contest our assertion several weeks ago that she had cut a deal with new DFL Chair Brian Melendez a few weeks back. Why wasn't she more prompt? She had just returned from Paris, a consolation award from her family for losing the state party chair election.

Last issue we flagged that KARE-11 had produced a lovely segment on the grande dame of Rochester, Jane Belau and her piano-playing at Mayo Clinic. We're getting old and losing our memories. And, we were wrong. It was WCCO TV.

Who was Ludeman's Lt. Gov. running mate? Then GOP Minneapolis City Councilman Denny Schulstad.