The absence of the V word?

GOP Rep. Pat Garofalo made an interesting comment to a group of reporters today when discussing the K12 conference committee report:

"We're disappointed that it comes in less than the governor recommended. The governor proposed an increase in education funding, this freezes it. But more importantly, it has little to none of governor's reform or innnovation ideas. And I look forward to standing at the press conference where he vetoes this bill."

When I asked Garofalo if he thought Pawlenty would veto the K12 bill he responded:

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"I'm technically not allowed to use that word. Only he has that word and it's locked up in a safe and I just goofed up."

So it appears that Pawlenty's team is being careful with the word "veto." When I joked earlier today that Pawlenty was likely to veto the HHS bill, Pawlenty's spokesman Brian McClung said "I didn't say he would veto the bill. I said it wasn't the type of bill that we're likely to support."

Alice Seagren, the Education Commissioner, wouldn't tell the K12 conference committee whether Pawlenty would veto the bill but said he had concerns with it. Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian's response when asked if Pawlenty would veto the Public Safety bill was "I don't know. He hasn't said."

I sent a note to McClung asking if Pawlenty would veto the K12, Higher Ed and Ag and Vets budget bills. Here's McClung's response:

"Governor Pawlenty will consider the bills passed by the Legislature and act on them within the timeframe outlined in law. He reserves his right to veto or line-item veto bills."

When I sent a follow up to McClung asking whether the Governor has instructed staff and GOP lawmakers to stay away from the Veto word, McClung responded "No he has not."

There has been one time this year when both McClung, Pawlenty and other Republicans have not been shy about saying "veto." It was when the House and Senate passed a Tax Bill with a $1 billion tax increase. That bill now sleeps with the fishes in White Bear Lake.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher hinted to the Pi Press today that the House and Senate may try to override that veto. No word on when that could happen.