Cage Match

Tim Pawlenty's move to get the House and Senate leadership into a locked cabin and not letting them (or him) out until the budget is settled is, I think, a brilliant move.

Pawlenty

"I've asked them to pack their bags and bring their toothbrushes and be prepared to stay there indefinitely until the negotiations are completed," Pawlenty said at a news conference. "No staff, no press, no lobbyists, no interest groups."

Grandstanding? Absolutely.

And a good move. What are the DFL leadership - in the middle of a state built on a Calvinist work ethic and full of people who don't brook procrastination - going to do? Counter-propose meeting at the Saint Paul Grill?

Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar was considering the trip, said his spokesman, John Pollard. House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, DFL-St. Paul, planned go to the talks, his spokesman said.

"Matt will travel anywhere, from Warroad to Worthington or anywhere in between to negotiate for health care and education funding," DFL House caucus spokesman Glen Fladeboe said today.

Truer words were never spoken.

Pawlenty made the unprecedented proposal after receiving an offer from Senate DFLers that he described as "not particularly helpful."

He described Camp Ripley, an Army base between Brainerd and Little Falls, "as a nice controlled setting," where only the five leaders will be ensconced, without lobbyists, staffers or the media. Intruders would be escorted off the grounds, Pawlenty said.

I'd call it a good comeback from his rough May, all in all.

My good friend The Head Of Alfredo Garcia has more over at Kool Aid Report.

Posted by Mitch at June 27, 2005 07:28 AM | TrackBack