Schutz Family Reunion July 21-23, 2011

Family Reunion July 2011

Family Reunion July 2011

Special session: The epilogue

We kicked butt last night.
I got home just in time to meet Chan at 4:45 a.m. as he was leaving for his morning workout.
Yesterday morning, when a special session was called for the afternoon, we had two key staff members on vacation. They came to work!
When session began, we went into action, over the next 12 hours, our writing staff cranked out 12 stories about the 12 major bills passed by the Legislature and sent to the governor. Here's the link if you want a nonpartisan, no-frills read http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sdaily.asp. Our TV staff provided minute-to-minute coverage of the floor action. We tweeted, we updated our facebook page, we uploaded photos to Twitpic. I didn't know this old girl still had it in her.
Now that it's over, what did I think of this special session? I'll stick to the process. It is shameful that the public had little or no time to view the bills that made up this $34 billion budget. I covered the bonding committee this past session, and there was NO bonding bill... but there was last night! So no input really. One of our writers covered pensions, and there was no pension bill this past session, but there was last night!
These 12 bills were massive and, for instance, people had little less than 15 minutes to view the education bill before it was voted on!
When you consider your candidates during the next election cycle. PLEASE ask them about the process of law making. This is extremely important. If your candidate doesn't think that compromise trumps personal or party principle... then I'd look elsewhere. If any candidate says what happened here "in the dark of night" is sometimes necessary, then look elsewhere.
There was a lot that went wrong in the process, but if we, the electorate don't give a rip, then I guess we get what we deserve - a government by the few and for the few!
Thanks, it's a wrap!
Chan and I are going to Grand Marais for a long weekend with the Schutz kids and grandkids, to visit the favorite aunt and hubby and cousin.
Here's to quilt shops, wine, beer, good food and LAKE SUPERIOR.

Day 19 State Government Shutdown

State Office Building and Capitol open at 9 a.m. .... not a moment too soon for afternoon snackers.

Day 18- Government Shutdown -open meeting law

Thanks to those of you who have asked questions:
1. "What the heck can citizens do to help resolve this shutdown? I don't know if you can post about that or not. But, we were chatting about it in my office today and nobody really knew what to do! Seems crazy to me ..
- The best thing to do is contact your representative or senator by e-mail or phone. Some will respond and others won't. But they'll get the message... here's how to find out who your representative is and their contact information. LINK
2. Isn't the Legislature subject to the open meeting law?
- Well, sort of. According to House Research: "The open meeting law that applies to the Legislature (STATUTE 3.055) applies to sessions of the House and the Senate and meetings of legilsative ocmmittess and commissions. The meetings between legislative officials and the governor are not meetings of a legilsative committee, and no official action can be taken at these meetings. Although the meetins may be important, technically they are informal gatherins. So there is no law or urle that requires these meetings to be open."

Day 17 Minnesota Government Shutdown

Those of you who know my background know where I stand on openness in government. I'll go to court over it, even get fired from a job over it.
It is difficult for me to even comprehend that our lawmakers are behind closed doors in the closed capitol and SOB crafting nine major budget bills that contain provisions that none of us are privvy to.
You may wonder how the meetings are not subject to the open meeting law. I think I wrote about this earlier, but there's a slight twist to the law, so these meetings can be closed. Those that are really interested in the subject, I suggest you follow Rich Neumeister's blog....Open Secrets. I have a lot of respect for this citizen lobbyist who is always out to cover privacy issues.
Anyway, I understand that even the Democrats are not involved in the meetings. BUT in some of the reporting I have read that "others" are brought into the meetings.... I hope that by "others" they don't mean "lobbyists." But I saw for sure one in the SOB the other day..... Just thinkin' that's all.
The bills are to be posted on line before the special session for public review. But let me tell you, as someone who has to write about these bill.... they are pages and pages long, and the language is cumbersome for anyone to read. I'll let you know when they are up online.

Day 12-13 Government Shutdown

What to write, what to write.... it's just more of the same. NOTHING on resolving the government shutdown. So, you ask, am I being productive at work? Yesterday we put the finishing touches on the Session Weekly session wrap up. Jam backed with new laws, vetoe, a great look at the impact of this year's group of freshmen legislators and a solid look back at how we got to where we are today. Here's the link to the HTML version. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessionweekly/.
To stay informed with nonpartisan news during this uncertain time, follow Session Daily.
Also we're on Facebook.... like us. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/MNHouseInfo
Today.... I'm home, writing some stories for Patch.com, and cleaning the house!

Day 11 - Minnesota State Government Shutdown

There's some debate whether today marks the longest state government shutdown ever. Yikes, what a title for Minnesota to hold. All is quiet at the SOB. We are putting the final touches on the last Session Weekly magazine for the session. We were going to wait until the end of the special session, so that would be covered. But decided to send it out now, cause who knows how long this shutdown will last. Today's photo shows the south door of the SOB. The yellow tape was not up last week.

Day 8 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

Again, no negotiations, no protestors out on the Capitol lawn.
I wonder .... where are the people? Where is the outrage?
I think a quote from my young friend may sum up where people are at:
Standing out on the steps of the Captiol probably won't get those idiots to do anything. What I can do that will help is to directly reach out to those affected and ask them what I can do to help them through this.GOOD POINT!
Here's a link to a really good piece on just what I'm talking about: How The Rules Have Changed.
I will not be blogging over the weekend. I think I will just quilt for a couple of days, and play with Mable.

Day 7: Minnesota government shutdown

I think the newspaper box inside the State Office Building pretty much sums it up. Since they are located in the "green zone," no papers have been able to be added daily. So there are last Thursday's remaining copies when we were headed into this shutdown.
Nothing has changed on the budget negotiation front since last Thursday either.
I heard today that the state's bond rating will be downgraded. What does that mean for you and me? The state will most likely be paying higher interesst rates on the money it borrows. But I think it has a greater symbolic impact. As Minnesotans, we have prided ourselves on being in the top tier of so many things: solid education, home of Fortune 500 businesses, and an ability to work together. What is happening to us?
Former Gov. Carlson and Walter Mondale set up a blue-ribbon commission to come up with a solution to this stalemate.

Day 6 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

Jason Moran of St. Paul stands as a lone sentry on the Capitol grounds with his message in hand. He has been there since Day 1 of the shutdown. The laid-off Minnesota Pollution Control Agency worker wonders why the grounds aren't filled with others in a similar position; why they aren't out protesting the shutdown. "I think people are stunned. I think they have lost hope that their government works for them." What keeps him coming back? It's hope. "The fact that I can stand out here and not get shot like I would in other countries, gives me hope," he said.

Day 5 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

I never asked his name, but just about everyday, as I made my way from parking lot C to the doors of the State Office Building, there he was - picking up trash, blowing tree debris from the sidewalks and in the winter putting salt down. He's not there now,and the grounds are starting to show it. There's trash and leaves downed from the previous night's wind. Day 5 of the government shutdown, and the state maintenance worker is maybe at home tending to his grounds.
I thought there would be a lot of protestors today. No - just two holding up signs in support of all government workers.
Leadership met with the governor today, but no forward progress.

Day 4 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

Happy Independence Day. Just heard a great reading of the Declaration of Independence. My hope is the new week brings fruitful negotiations between the leadership and the governor.
Today, for me, it's picnic time.
Tomorrow, it's back to the Capitol.

Day 3 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

No news about the government shutdown. Today, I made my preparations for the week by cleaning out my computer. I'm ready.

Day 2 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

We took a one-day road trip to Brainerd on Day 2 of the government shutdown. Along the way I spoke with people about the shutdown effects. I also asked the question: "If you were in the room with the leaders and the govenor, what would be your compromise position." That was a stumper and a conversation stopper. While people were upset and didn't mind letting me know that, they had few solutions. One person said that we got into this mess together, and we need to all pay the price ... including higher taxes. I spoke with a person in management at a prison who said they had to lay 50 people off, and now those on duty have to work overtime. An elder fella talked about his disabled wife and how her services would be compromised. There was no government-shutdown effect at Breezy Point Resort. People were out on the lake and at the beach enjoying the great weather. When we got home late in the day, we went to the new Burger Jones in Burnsville. (Great burgers and a fantastic beer list). I tried a Surly Bender and an Abbey from New Belgium Brewery. I liked the Abbey best. Both had a very complex taste. We sat next to a couple that told me "taxes weren't a problem." By the conversation, I think they may be in that upper income bracket that Gov. Dayton is targeting for new income taxes. No, it's not the guy featured in the video.

Day 1 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

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Photo courtesy of Minnesota House of Representatives
Signs went up at the Minnesota state Capitol building and the State Office Building letting everyone know the buildings were closed. Legislative staff are deemed essential and we are able to get in the building with our keycard. Capitol security is at the only access door making sure that only authorized people get in. For the first time since I have worked at the Capitol, no cars are parked in front of the building. One lone protester is walking back and forth on the Capitol steps. Very, very quiet. Last night I dreamed that someone through a rock through our office window. Reading the news accounts of the massive layoff, I sense anger building.

June 30, 2011: D-Day to Government Shutdown

It's decision day. Either the Republican Legislature and the DFL governor come to agreement, or we will be faced with the most massive layoff in the history of Minnesota. At stake? The jobs of 22,000 state workers. I won't get into the politics as I follow this historic event. I will just try to document the days till there is agreement and a special session is held. My video shows the press encampment outside the governor's office, the protestors inside and outside the capitol, House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch coming for one of a long string of meetings for the governor, and Republican spokesman Michael Brodkamp being interviewed by the press. If you are interested in following the news without hype of the shutdown, I suggest that you "like" http://www.facebook.com/#!/MNHouseInfo.