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Senate Hearings On Molnau May Be Delayed

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Feb 8, 2008 6:27 am US/Central

Senate Hearings On Molnau May Be Delayed

ST. PAUL (AP) ― What might have been an explosive kickoff to the 2008 legislative session appears to have been put on hold for at least a few weeks.

DFLers who hold a majority in the Senate said a confirmation hearing on Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau won't come in the session's first two weeks and would be put off until after the Senate debates transportation funding and policy bills.

Molnau, who is also the the lieutenant governor, came under intense criticism after the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in August and came to symbolize the state's transportation problems. Many DFLers had been calling for her immediate removal when the session begins Tuesday.

Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, the assistant majority leader, said that a protracted floor fight over Molnau's status at the beginning of the session might not be prudent. "Our initial focus is not on (Molnau)," she said. "I think sometimes it distracts a little bit from the broader issues.

"We anticipate that there'll be a new (transportation) bill," she said. "We have the votes in the Senate, we just need to make sure that there's votes in the House."

Senate DFLers -- and even some Republicans -- said there are still likely enough votes to block Molnau's Senate confirmation, a move that would remove her from her transportation post but wouldn't affect her position as lieutenant governor.

Sen. Steve Murphy, the Senate Transportation Committee chair who has led the push to remove Molnau, said he wanted to hold the hearing on Feb. 14. But he said he was told by Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller that the Senate calendar was booked with other issues in the session's opening weeks.

"My understanding is it's simply a timing issue," said Murphy, DFL-Red Wing. "Are there votes there to kick her out of her job? Absolutely."

Pogemiller did not respond to an interview request.

Sen. David Senjem, the Senate minority leader, said DFLers were now waffling and that their tactics were "somewhat disgusting."

"Some of what they've said about her is absolutely not very nice," he said. "After all the rhetoric, they don't dare to bring her forth for confirmation?

"I think we ought to just bring her up, and let's have the vote, and (the Senate Republicans) will stand by her," he said.

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According to a Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Web site, Molnau was born and raised on a farm in Carver County. She attended Waconia public schools and the University of Minnesota.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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