Minnesota: Senate Leadership Now Up in the Air

Checks & Balances ^ | 5/30/03 | Checks & Balances

[jdege]

Senate Leadership Now Up in the Air

5/30/03

We've heard about problems that members of the Iron Range delegation were having with the Tax Bill and also learned about a meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger (DFL-23, St. Peter) that didn't appease the situation. Now that the Special Session is over we will need to wait for the next convening of the legislature to see if a leadership struggle ensues. Freshman Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-06, Cook), never one to be shy about expressing his opinions, has thrown down the gauntlet and is openly challenging Hottinger's leadership by no longer caucusing with the DFL Majority.

The issue is over taconite tax payments made by the mining companies in lieu of property tax payments. The agreement in the Tax Bill takes in to account these tax payments as if they were property taxes in the Local Government Aid (LGA) formula. The Iron Range is already set to experience significant reductions in LGA cuts with the realignment in the formula, but accounting for the taconite tax payments causes an even deeper hit to Range communities.

When we found out about the problem the talk was the three DFL Iron Range Senators Bakk, David Tomassoni (DFL-05, Chisholm) and Tom Saxhaug (DFL-03, Grand Rapids) were discussing leaving the DFL Caucus and talking about caucusing with the Republicans. From our understanding, Sen. Dick Day (R-28, Owatonna) was to call for a reorganization of the Senate, which would create the opportunity for this to play out. Day never took action on the floor and so the item is still pending. As we were informed this would not result in Day becoming majority leader, but rather the ouster of Hottinger and the installation of Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-28, Red Wing).

Now we understand only Bakk has taken a walk and Tomassoni and Saxhaug are considering doing the same. This shows how close the DFL majority actually is and how a few people can dictate to the larger group.

[jdege]

Just a bit of info on how Minnesota's DFL Party is hanging together.

[JohnnyZ]

Any more info on Bakk, Tomasswhatever and Saxhaug? Are they social conservatives? Is there something beyond Iron Issues?

[jdege]

They're typical rural blue-collar Democrats.

Pro-gun, socially conservative, but fiscally irresponsible.

[JohnnyZ]

Reagan-Bush conservatives! I love 'em!

[jdege]

The sight requires registration.

[jdege]

It's a collection of pieces on various subjects.

I posted everything that referred to this subject.

[fnord]

"Minnesota: Senate Leadership Now Up in the Air"

Rather dangerous place to be for a Minnesota politican, dontcha think?

[JohnnyZ]

Rather dangerous place to be for a Minnesota politican, dontcha think?

Especially now that they have CCW :) Pull!

[AuH2ORepublican]

"They're typical rural blue-collar Democrats.

Pro-gun, socially conservative, but fiscally irresponsible."

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They sound like Iron Range Congressman Jim Oberstar. I think voters from the Iron Range will form an important part of the new Republican majority in Minnesota for years to come.

BTW, Oberstar's district, which voted for Dukakis over Bush 41 by a 60-40% margin, gave Gore a scant 5% plurality in 2000 (Gore beat Bush 43 by a 49%-44% margin). Once Oberstar retires, the GOP could well pick up the seat, especially since most of the population growth in the district is coming in the Republican Twin Cities exurbs.

[Impy]

As far as I can tell that district was the only one that switched from Repub to Dem in the GOP landslide year of 1946. It would be sweet to get it back.

And Colin Peterson's seat should be ours too. It was Bush's best in the state.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"And Colin Peterson's seat should be ours too."

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As soon as Collin retires, the seat will go GOP. I don't think they'll vote for a young Democrat, even if he's as pro-life and pro-gun as Peterson.