We will see how the rest of the session shakes out, but it has not been good for Senate Minority Leader Senjem and the Republican leadership in the Senate. As a local Republican told me the other day: "the base has not found that "warm fuzzy" feeling after watching their party in this session."
To be fair:
I understand not having a veto proof majority makes it tough sledding (come on spring!) in making yourselves relevant. However, I have never been able to understand the plan from a legislative or political standpoint. Republicans are notoriously bad at explaining anything to the public.
The Republicans were all over the place never voting in a unified block. In fact, the linguistic battle on the bonding bill seemed like a real lesson in futility if not embarrassment given the support it received from the Minority Leader. I am not sure what he was expecting?
The progress and voting on the health care bill and the bonding bills are just two examples of major public relation nightmares at best. It makes you look back on the days of Minority Leader Day with happy "warm and fuzzy" thoughts.
Mary's Page
04/02/08
by Mary Lahammer
Senate Spices It Up--Finally!
It seems the Senate has woken up from a session-long slumber. Senators have gotten a lot of heat for being too amiable, agreeable, particularly the minority. The 12 minute debate on the bonding bill has become infamous at the Capitol. Minority Leader Dave Senjem was ridiculed for speaking against the bonding bill then voting for it the first time it hit the floor. The minority wasn't offering amendments and many wondered if they had any fight left in them. Today couldn't be more different. On the tax bill they've been fighting for hours and offering amendments. And now, the ultimate fight. Republicans called out Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) and Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan) for not voting on an amendment when apparently they were in the chamber. The suspicion is that Republicans want Bonoff, who's running for congress, and Carlson, who took his seat from Republicans, to take a "bad vote" on an amendment dealing with education.
It seems the Senate has woken up from a session-long slumber. Senators have gotten a lot of heat for being too amiable, agreeable, particularly the minority. The 12 minute debate on the bonding bill has become infamous at the Capitol. Minority Leader Dave Senjem was ridiculed for speaking against the bonding bill then voting for it the first time it hit the floor. The minority wasn't offering amendments and many wondered if they had any fight left in them. Today couldn't be more different. On the tax bill they've been fighting for hours and offering amendments. And now, the ultimate fight. Republicans called out Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) and Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan) for not voting on an amendment when apparently they were in the chamber. The suspicion is that Republicans want Bonoff, who's running for congress, and Carlson, who took his seat from Republicans, to take a "bad vote" on an amendment dealing with education.
