Politics

ST. PAUL (AP) ― With a $1 billion-plus deficit on the horizon, Tuesday's election did little to alter basic disagreements over taxes and spending between Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Democrats who padded their majorities in both houses.

Heavy lifting awaits state leaders, with a grim budget forecast anticipated early next month and a two-year state budget to put together when the Legislature convenes next year.

House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said on Wednesday Democrats plan to focus on stimulating the economy and tougher oversight of state agencies under Pawlenty's administration as they look for ways to save. He said it was too soon to say whether tax increases would be part of the vision.

"I don't want to start this off in a confrontational sort of way and hopefully the governor does not either," said Sertich, DFL-Chisholm. "We're going to need his leadership."

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said the Democrats' gains were insignificant and Pawlenty hopes to tackle the deficit with lawmakers in a "constructive, positive, bipartisan way."

House Democrats fell short of a goal of reaching 90 seats, a veto-proof majority that would have let them override Pawlenty's vetoes without Republican defectors.

The DFL netted two House seats, strengthening their majority to 87 seats vs. 47 for Republicans. Democrats picked up House seats in Princeton, Owatonna, Rosemount, Eagan, Bloomington and Coon Rapids, while losing seats in Cannon Falls, Apple Valley, Blaine and the state's southeastern corner.

Senate Democrats kept their veto-proof majority and added one seat in a special election, giving them a 46-21 split with the GOP. Except for two open seats, the rest of the Senate wasn't on the ballot.

Sounding demoralized, Minority Leader Marty Seifert said he would weigh whether to run for his post again over the weekend. He said he was disappointed his caucus didn't gain seats and was particularly bitter over the loss of a GOP-held Senate district along Highway 169 between Elk River and Lake Mille Lacs.

"Essentially we have one of the most conservative Republican districts in the state of Minnesota represented by a liberal Democrat now," said Seifert, R-Marshall. "It's not my body, it's not my chamber, but we got to get our act together as a party. And what happened out there is absolutely ridiculous."

In that race, Democrat Lisa Fobbe beat Republican primary winner Alison Krueger by 93 votes, while a write-in campaign by Republican Rep. Mark Olson got 327 votes. Olson was tossed from Seifert's caucus after a domestic assault conviction last year, then denied his party's endorsement for re-election in the House. He ran in a special election to replace retiring GOP Sen. Betsy Wergin and lost the primary to Krueger.

The Senate District 16 race was one of three legislative races to get automatic recounts because the winning margin was less than one half of a percent, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said.

The others are in House District 16A, where Democrat Gail Kulick Jackson upset GOP Rep. Sondra Erickson by 89 votes out of more than 22,000 cast, and in House District 12B, where DFL Rep. Al Doty prevailed over Republican Mike Lemieur by 76 votes out of more than 20,000 cast.

With the state's reserves mostly tapped from earlier budget fixes, Seifert predicted fewer choices for majority Democrats. He said his caucus aims to work more closely with Pawlenty on his budget while awaiting DFL proposals for dealing with anticipated fiscal problems.

"They're going to either have to raise taxes or cut spending. There's no more easy money left for them," Seifert said.

Sertich said both he and DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher aim to remain in the leadership roles they have held since Democrats took control of the House in the 2006 election.

House Democrats meet Thursday to organize their caucus, while Republicans plan a similar meeting on Nov. 15.

 

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