DefCon 3
We're raising the DefCon level after DFL leaders walked out of budget talks claiming that Governor Pawlenty was "moving the goal posts." The latest breakdown in private talks came when Gov. Pawlenty raised objections to the use of $50 million from the health plan reserve fund. DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said the House will not take up the Education Finance bill tonight.
Gov. Pawlenty's spokesma, Brian McClung, sent an e-mail saying the Administration has raised the reserve fund during meetings in April. He said in a scrum with reporters that the governor still wants to continue negotiating but the decision to pass the Education bill "is not a good sign."
The things to look out for are the level of GOP support for the Education Finance bill. Remember the House is up for reelection this fall and a vote against an increase in education funding could end up on campaign literature. What will the retiring Republicans do since they don't have to worry about reelection. Will the House also take up the Tax Bill and the Budget Bill (raising the DefCon levels to 4 and 5)?
UPDATE: The House voted 97 to 35 in favor of the bill. That is more than enough to override an expected veto by Gov. Pawlenty.
UPDATE: DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said they won't take up the Tax bill or the Budget balancing bill tonight.
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