Don’t believe what you hear from where?
Near the end of today's House floor session, curious Republicans were asking DFL leaders for a preview of this week's work schedule.
Votes are pending on all major budget bills, but the exact order business remains unclear.
Rep. Dean Simpson, R-Perham, inquired about the tax bill. He mentioned hearing on the radio that DFL leaders expected a floor vote on the tax bill by Saturday.
The chairwoman of the House Taxes Committee, Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, explained that the tax bill would not be ready for a vote until next week.
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House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, offered some advice to Simpson.
"Don't believe everything you hear on the radio," Sertich said. "We're going to get to the tax bill as soon as possible."
Sertich further explained the plan for this week was to get through all of the finance bills by Saturday.
"We really don't have any control at this point to know if we'll be here Saturday or not," Sertich added. "I certainly hope we will not."
Now, let's go back to the radio part. There's a good chance the information Simpson heard was on MPR. There's also good chance this reporter was responsible for him hearing it. When accuracy is in question, it's always a good idea to go to the tape.
Here are some transcribed excerpts from a media briefing Sertich held Friday with House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
Forum Communications Capitol Bureau Chief Don Davis: Are you planning to meet on Saturday next week?
Speaker Kelliher: Absolutely.
Davis: And will taxes be about the last thing?
Kelliher: I think it looks like that's kind of the lineup right now.
Almanac Political Reporter Mary Lahammer: Everything done by Saturday, even taxes?
Kelliher: That's our hope.
Information from the briefing was used in reports on MPR.