Minnesota Democrats know they are in Trouble?

I found this article very interesting. Sviggum to a Minnesota Democrat is about a polarizing a figure as one could imagine. Yet, he sailed through his hearing without any trouble or challenge from a Democrat dominated Senate. If Democrats felt they were strong Sviggum would have been treated worse than Lt. Gov. Molnau, which is hard to believe is possible.

I think this shows that Democrats are nervous about the fall and are going to slip out of session making as few waves from now until election day as they possibly can. It is time for Republicans to assert themselves on important issues.

Sviggum clears first confirmation hurdle for labor and industry commissioner spot
By Bill Salisbury
bsalisbury@pioneerpress.com
03/31/2008 04:02:20 PM CDT

Steve Sviggum, the former Republican speaker of the Minnesota House, today won the blessing of a Democratic-dominated Senate committee for his new job as state commissioner of labor and industry.

The Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full Senate confirm Sviggum's appointment by his longtime friend and political ally, Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Sen. Jim Metzen, the committee chairman, said he had been concerned that Sviggum might politicize the agency, but after meeting privately with Sviggum and monitoring the department's performance, Metzen said he believes Sviggum is a fair and impartial administrator.

Sviggum, a 29-year legislative veteran, resigned from the House last year to take his new state job. He was speaker from 1999 through 2006.

The Department of Labor and Industry oversees the state's workers compensation system, enforces workplace health and safety laws, monitors labor law compliance and regulates construction codes.