2010 second Special Session coverage

By Rach Eggert

The legislature met in second Special Session on Monday, October 18th to deal with flooding relief funding after delaying for a week.

Both galleries in Senate and House Chambers was packed as if its sold out postseason Twins vs New York Yankees game at the Target Field expect we had a couple of empty seats. Even in hallways, it was madhouse and some had to watch TV in hallways because of full galleries. People from Zumbro Falls came all way via school bus to watch the process, some hardcore lobbyists, some hardcore fans (myself included when not working) and tourists that decided to stop by (saw some Japanese tourists walk around) to watch action on flooding relief but also last chance that everyone was in action just two weeks before Election. About 20 legislators are not returning or lost in Primary Election and also last time to face each other such as House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Tom Emmer for last time since they ran in Primary (Kelliher lost and Emmer won in Primary).

Senator Scott Dibble wanted to add his anti-bullying legislation to agenda for Special Session but they refuse and told him to wait until 2011 regular legislative session. He did spoke about his legislation when President James Metzen yielded the floor to Dibble for personal privilege.

There was seven legislation introduced during Special Session on House Floor:

1. House File 1: Flooding and Tornado relief funds.
2. House File 2: Open enrollment for children health plans.
3. House File 3: Disaster relief, amending MN statutes 2010 Section 12A.07 Subdivision 2.
4. House File 4: Anti-bullying (Dibble's bill wasn't introduced in Senate)
5. House File 5: Better options and training for Autism (Health insurance, autism service options, train service providers).
6. House File 6: Resolution to have President and Congress review FBI Raids on Minnesota activists.
7. House File 7: increase age for health care on dependents to 26 years old.

Who was absent: Senator Ann Rest, Rep. Steve Smith, Rep. Tim Mahoney, and outgoing Rep. Jeremy Kalin.

Rep. David Dill was back at work six days after kidney transplant: you could watch The Uptake's video of his return here

Governor Pawlenty signed flooding relief legislation Monday night. When the Senate was adjourning, Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller thanked every Senators and staff for showing up to do Special session and wished them luck during final two weeks of campaigning.

Issue of Session Weekly covering Special session is available online by clicking here.

Session Day Note from Minnesota Senate is available online by clicking here

House Journal from Minnesota House is available online by clicking here

NO SPECIAL SESSION TODAY

There won't bs Special Session today. They have postponed it to more likely Thursday or at later date due to waiting a word from Federal Goverment regarding flooding. Federal offices are closed today due to Columbus Day.

Stay turned.

IT'S OFFICIAL: SPECIAL SESSION IN OCTOBER AND POLITICAL POSTSEASON BEFORE 2011 SESSION STARTS

Its official that Governor Tim Pawlenty called on Special Session to deal with flooding that have been occurring in Southern Minnesota. It will be sometimes during between October 7-12 and it will be one day special session.

Earlier today Governor and the Legislative leaders met in private meeting to deal with the issue. Gov. Pawlenty said that he prefer to wait until he hear from the federal government regarding spending on flooding relief.

If you are hardcore fan of Minnesota State Legislature, it is your only and last chance to see all of Senators and Representatives in action before General Election because 20 or more members are not returning when they convene again for 2011 regular session. It is just like postseason for Minnesota Political junkies like myself. Last chance to watch your favorite legislators such as Satveer Chaudhary, Margret Anderson Kelliher, Tom Emmer and more in action.

It will be on webcast but being televised is questionable. The Uptake will be broadcasting the session live.

Note: If session does occur on October 7, Downtown St. Paul will be very busy with Wild VS Hurricane 11AM game at the Excel Energy Center, so best way is to take public transit because when events are occurring at State Capitol and Excel Energy Center at same time, parking is impossible to find. For Metro Transit information: Call 612-373-3777 or go on www.metrotransit.org. As for concessions and food: My employer won’t have concessions stand or Capitol cafeteria open but they do provide vending machines or you can grab a bite at Minnesota Department of Transportation cafeteria during lunch hour.