3 Days Into Minn. Legislative Session, Bickering Begins
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Just six months ago, an inability to see eye-to-eye led to Minnesota's longest state shutdown. Now, the 2012 legislative session is only three days old, but state lawmakers on opposite ends of the political spectrum are already back to bickering.
The stakes are high for Republicans, who have control of the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years, and they are moving decisively to make their mark.
Republicans announced Friday they are likely to fire Ellen Anderson, Gov. Mark Dayton's appointed Chair of the Public Utilities Commission, on Monday.
Anderson served in the Senate for 20 years before the PUC, and is considered an expert on energy issues: particularly renewable energy. Republicans, however, say her views are 'extreme'.
"Not in line with most Minnesotans. I would say she's got a tough record for job providers, job creators, the ratepayers. Her work has created some controversy. And it makes it very difficult to confirm a commissioner as controversial as she has been," said Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen).
However, Democrats say that it isn't about Republicans making their mark, but that it's really about is pent-up revenge.
Dayton told a group Friday that Republicans are engaging in "petty politics" and "payback" for the time Democrats fired Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau as Transportation Commissioner.
That's not all, too.
DFL leaders have accused GOP of deliberately "lying" about Senate finances.
This week, the GOP announced layoffs of 14 Democratic staffers -- and no Republican staffers -- to balance the budget.
