Waiting for the inevitable Pawlenty veto

UPDATE: We didn't have long to wait. The veto has arrived. Go here to read it.

Groundhog Day. The definition of insanity.

Pick your allusion, but here we are at the end of another session, watching DFLers toss their principles on the bonfires of compromise while Gov. Tim Pawlenty stands ready, yet again, to veto another bill everybody knew was DOA before they voted on it.

It passed 71-63 in the House of Representatives and 34-33 in the Minnesota Senate on Monday, with plenty of DFL defectors and none from the Republican side of the aisle. So there's little hope of overriding the inevitable veto when it comes.

While we wait, let's take a look at some bills that are heading down the home stretch that might actually stand a chance of becoming law.

All of them just wrapped up their conference committee work and final versions could be headed to the House and Senate soon.

SF 2540 from Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, requires a "business liaison" to consult with businesses affected by new rail transit projects to minimize impacts on them, but excludes the Central Corridor light rail line from the requirement.

It's actually the omnibus transportation policy bill, and includes many  transportation law changes, such as language from Rep. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, that would require the Minnesota Department of Transportation to regularly conven a working group to examine how well the department is doing at issuing contracts to business owners from disadvantaged groups such as women and people of color.

Another transportation-related bil, HF 3263 from Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, would set a 40 mph maximum speed limit in construction zones on two-lane highways and add language to motor vehicle instruction manuals telling people when they should drive in the right lane of a multi-lane street or highway.

SF 2933 from Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, would broaden the eligibility for nursing home residents to qualify for the state's Medical Assistance program.

HF 2624 from Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, spends $26 million from the environmental trust fund that some Minnesota Lottery proceeds go to. The proceeds will be used for conservation, restoration and environmental studies.

SF 1905 from Sen. Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, would study law changes that could make it easier for small businesses to form group health insurance pools and other reforms.

Minnesota State Capitol

Tags:

• Public spaces,

Lawrence Schumacher

Lawrence Schumacher (lawrence@tcdailyplanet.net)  is a freelance journalist with 12+ years covering Minnesota communities, government, politics and elections.