GAMC override vote possible Monday

The House may vote Monday on whether to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of General Assistance Medical Care funding.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Mpls) said legislative leaders will spend the weekend working with the governor's office to find a compromise on GAMC. The program, which provides health coverage to low-income adults, was effectively eliminated by Pawlenty last year through executive actions. Absent new funding, GAMC is scheduled to expire April 1.

"We think a signed bill is preferable to an override situation," Kelliher said; however, if negotiations fail to show progress by Monday, she said DFLers may force an override vote on HF2680/  SF2168*, which would temporarily restore funding to the program. (Watch the press conference.)

Asked whether House DFLers could corral the 90 votes needed for a successful override, Kelliher said she didn't know. The House passed the bill on a bipartisan vote of 125-9 on Feb. 18; however, House Republicans have said they will uphold Pawlenty's veto. The Senate voted 45-21 to override the governor's veto Feb. 25.

Meanwhile, negotiations will also continue over the weekend on a nearly $1 billion bonding bill passed by the House and Senate, but which Pawlenty has also threatened to veto.

Looking ahead to the next week, Kelliher said other major agenda items will include:

• the release of the February budget forecast on Tuesday, and a joint committee hearing Wednesday night to discuss it;
• a Tuesday hearing on proposals supported by the bipartisan Small Business Caucus;
• a floor vote on a bill that would provide tax exemptions for donations to Haiti; and
• a Wednesday hearing on distracted driving issues.