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May 6, 2009 6:51 pm US/Central
Mulch, The Boss, Favre? What About The Budget?
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Cocoa Bean Mulch, Bruce Springsteen, Brett Favre
CBS/AP/Al Bello/Getty Images
Minnesota's $4.7 billion budget deficit still needs to be solved, and right now there's no overall breakthrough in sight. While that huge issue remains unresolved, a lot of other topics are coming up on the floor. Some of them might raise an eyebrow or two.
Quarterback Brett Favre is part of the curious political mix. So is rock music icon Bruce Springsteen. Don't forget cocoa bean mulch -- it's the talk of the legislative session.
"And we still have a $6.4 billion deficit? And we're here on the House floor talking about cocoa bean mulch. This doesn't make any of us look good, members," said Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota House spent a fractious hour debating warning signs where cocoa mulch is sold, alerting dog owners of potential hazards.
And on Wednesday a bill passed sparked by the Boss that regulates online ticket sales. Days are long, and tempers short.
"You've got 10 miles of shoreline that's worth hundreds of millions of dollars and you're spending 7 years to raise seven grand??!! Aw c'mon!! Its embarrassing that you would sit there and say this stuff," said Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia.
There's inaction on the biggest bills, like fixing Minnesota's record budget deficit. But Democratic leaders say they aren't worried.
"Sometimes it gets excitement going, but it is not unusual," said DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
And then there's Brett Favre.
Minnesota's Gov. Tim Pawlenty is wishing, in public, that the former Green Pay Packers quarterback play for the Vikings. On many levels, said one Democratic leader, that's wrong.
"I will tell you that I'm surprised the governor has time to be worrying whether Brett Favre is going to come back from retirement. And as a Vikings fan myself, I think that's bad judgment on the governor's part," said DFL Majority Leader Sen. Larry Pogemiller.
Minnesota lawmakers get a per diem payment of up to $96 per day for expenses on top of their $31,000 salary. Since Jan. 1, preliminary figures show House and Senate members have collected $1.6 million in per diem. That's an average of $12,013 per member.
There are 12 days left in the session and the House and Senate have introduced a total of 4505 bills. The governor has signed into law 32 of them.
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