Special session wraps up
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Special session comes to an end, government shutdown avoided
Tom Scheck, MPR News
It was a rough, ragged and disorganized end to the legislative session. The House and Senate finished their work early this morning after a long day fighting over details of a budget bill for agriculture and environment programs. The state will avoid a partial government shutdown, but it may take Democrats a while to recover from a bruising finish.
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Last night, Gov Dayton was begging Dems to vote for the budget & end session. The latest sign of a weakened governor: mprnews.org/story/2015/06/…by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 11:50:44 AM
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The Daily Digest: Special session today
Political news from Minnesota and Washington. -
Dramatic finish ahead for lawmakers completing tardy budget (from @AP) #mnleg m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/c…by Brian Bakst via twitter 6/12/2015 1:03:10 PM
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Here's the House seating chart for today's extra special Legislative session in SOB Room 10. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTmR4mUYAE1Fnz.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:30:05 PM -
Special session overview
Catharine Richert, MPR News
After late-night caucus meetings, all four legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton have agreed to hold a special session today at 10 a.m. (MPR News)
But don't get too excited yet. Some Senate DFLers aren’t happy with the agriculture and environment budget bill that they say rolls back environmental protections.
Watch the likes of Sens. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, John Marty, DFL-Roseville, and Jeff Hayden, DFL-Minneapolis, during votes today. They're on the record as saying they're unhappy with the bill - and the process that produced the legislation - and the question is whether they will stand their ground or cave to the will of their leadership to wrap things up.
That leaves DFL Sen. Tom Bakk relying on Republican votes to pass the bill, and he said he's not sure the votes are there.
It's not every day that you see rank-and-file liberals opposing their leadership and governor so blatantly. So, if you're like me, I bet you're wondering, "How the heck did things end up this way?" (MPR News)
FYI: There will be no "grandstanding" during today's one-day session. (MPR News)
And for something completely different: A prominent state official will become CEO of a Minnesota-based medical cannabis company. (MPR News) -
"I have never seen a governor that has been more disrespected," said Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul. mprnews.org/story/2015/06/…by Mukhtar M. Ibrahim via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:31:34 PM
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Temporary MN House chamber ready for 10am start of special session. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTq-UYVAAAwJ6q.jpg
by Tim Pugmire via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:43:57 PM -
Bills being collated for Senators in the State Office Building for today's special session. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTpbKgUwAA85d_.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:44:32 PM -
Among today's special session questions: will WiFi hold up for all these laptops, phones and tablets? http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTp7QIUkAAKocU.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:44:40 PM -
Podium on right for majority, left for minority, Sen. Pappas prepares to gavel in Senate today. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTrbf0VAAAEtJJ.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:53:20 PM -
Bakk, Pappas huddle with staff ahead of special MN Senate session. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTtkoEWwAAd4nS.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 2:56:45 PM -
25 seats in public, press gallery for Senate. Here's the ticket. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTuoGxUcAAK7My.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter 6/12/2015 2:58:36 PM -
The GOP pre-special session huddle in the MN Senate. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTvJDAUAAACEQ1.jpg
by Tim Nelson via twitter 6/12/2015 3:00:50 PM -
Special session begins
Minnesota lawmakers are meeting in a special session without the usual certainty that legislation on the docket will pass. Mystery surrounds an agriculture and natural resources budget bill that many Democrats oppose as weakening environmental protections.
The session has a historic feature: Lawmakers will convene outside the Capitol for the first time in 110 years because of a renovation project. They're meeting in makeshift chambers in an adjacent office building. -
House Speaker Daudt has begun the special session.by Tim Pugmire via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 3:05:07 PM
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Quorum roll call underway in the House. First of many lengthy reading of names.by Tim Pugmire via twitter retweeted by MPRpolitics 6/12/2015 3:05:12 PM
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There are no boards in the House or Senate because they're holding session in the SOB bc of Capitol renovation. That means voice roll calls.by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:10:46 PM
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"We're making a bit of history today," Daudt said. "This is the first time in 110 years that we're holding session outside of the Capitol."by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:11:32 PM
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Speaker Daudt says we're making history today, by meeting outside of Capitol building.by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/12/2015 3:11:47 PM
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The roll call to determine a quorum took about five minutes.by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:12:20 PM
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Speaker Daudt and members of the MN House at the start of the special session. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHTx9OUWcAAR5Mr.jpg
by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/12/2015 3:13:09 PM -
It's a beautiful day. Anyone want to make a motion to meet outside on the Capitol lawn?by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:13:11 PM
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Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, starts session in a nice fashion by saying "Our long nightmare is over, Rep. Winkler is leaving."by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:16:39 PM
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Garofalo gets boos. He then said Winkler's departure to Belgium is Minnesota's loss but Belgium's gain.by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:17:11 PM
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HF 3, jobs and energy bill, is up in the House. Rep.Pat Garofalo begins presentation by saying goodbye to Rep. Ryan Winkler.by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/12/2015 3:17:37 PM
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Garofalo says 90-95% of the Jobs bill is the same. This is the bill no one in the House got to read in the final minutes of session.by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:18:19 PM
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House members begin discussing bill, using wireless mic that will get passed around the room as they stand at their seats.by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/12/2015 3:21:10 PM
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DFL Rep. Tim Mahoney, criticizing the bill, says rural Minnesota better not hope for another session like this.by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/12/2015 3:22:32 PM
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Mahoney says bill was improved with removal of tip credit provision.by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/12/2015 3:23:42 PM
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Important procedural note in MN Senate. Roll call on bills will be done twice and then close.by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:25:56 PM
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First Mason's fight in the MN Senate. Sen. Nienow says he should be allowed to change a vote until the vote is announced.by tomscheck via twitter 6/12/2015 3:26:58 PM