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May 20, 2008

End of session: Cordial, on time and productive

By Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — The post-legislative-session victory spins happen every year with bragging that sometimes sounds about as genuine as the fish tales told the day after the opener.

But unlike previous years, it didn’t sound so much like Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Democratic legislative leaders were trying to convince Minnesotans that the fried bullhead they were serving up was actually buttered lobster tail.

This time, they had a mess of legislative lunkers to brag about.

“By all accounts, we can say it was probably the most productive legislative session in a long time at the Capitol,” said House Speaker and Mankato native Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

There was property tax relief for homeowners, a boost in payments to K-12 schools, the first step in reforming the health care system and pay raises for nursing home workers. And that was just over the weekend.

Earlier in the session, lawmakers approved a major bonding bill to finance construction statewide; a constitutional amendment that — if voters approve on Nov. 4 — will boost the state sales tax to provide permanent funding for the environment and arts; and a landmark transportation funding bill for roads, bridges and transit.

It wouldn’t be a bad list in any year — especially since the session ended cordially and on time. But it was probably more surprising considering that the Legislature and governor were also facing a nearly $1 billion state budget deficit.

“It’s the state Capitol equivalent of catching a nice, big walleye. It’s a keeper,” Pawlenty told the Associated Press. “This session was a good catch and it’s going to result in a good result for the people of our state.”





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