Comments on The Pajama Pundit: Franken Vs. Coleman, Round #734

We are looking at about 800 Million down here in I...

2009-01-14T12:01:15.406-05:00

We are looking at about 800 Million down here in Iowa. Gov. Culver is asking for 700 Million is bonds to be issued over the next couple of years for infrastructure projects, but he keeps trying to hold off on a budget until he hears how much we are going to get out of the stimulus package. By law though he has to send the legislature a budget by the end of the month.

The legislature hasn't even begun to address chang...

2009-01-14T11:53:26.637-05:00

The legislature hasn't even begun to address changes to election laws yet. We have something like a $6B deficit looming, bridge repair is a big issue up here, so are education and health care. Those items require lots of money. Both the House and Senate are dominated by the DFL, but Gov. Pawlenty has a pretty polemic stance on government responsibility and funding (as in gov't is stupid so let's starve it to death). We've had some very contentious sessions the last decade with the DFL, R, and IP ("Ventura's" Independence Party) all finding ways to grind the state to a halt or pushing the minimum work to the 11th hour. Lessons have been learned by everyone, but I still expect the budget and infrastructure issues to dominate this session.

Next year is a non-funding session (we do budgets every other year). I think we'll be more likely to address election alternatives next year. no one will forget this Senate race any time soon.

Franken's argument here is pretty much DOA, althou...

2009-01-14T11:27:02.954-05:00

Franken's argument here is pretty much DOA, although this could bring light to a State vs Federal loophole that needs to be filled.

@EJ

Has the MN legislature written the bill to change all this mess to a Run Off election system yet?

MN state law says that the Gov and SoS cannot sign...

2009-01-14T10:41:39.199-05:00

MN state law says that the Gov and SoS cannot sign certificate until all legal challenges are complete. What Franken's lawyers are saying to the MN Supreme court is that there is a federal law that overrides the state law. I can't find the statutes that are being argued, but I would be surprised if Franken's argument stands up.