SPNN just ran the press conference on the handshake deal between the governor, the senate and the house on the budget. Highlights include:

• budget balanced for two years, although not structurally balanced over the long run. After years of NOT investing in the state, and the influence of bad federal financial management, the downward spiral of our Minnesota economy and therefore the downward spiral of tax revenues is clear.

• a 3.9% property tax cap for three years, that has many exceptions, that is somewhat offset by 60 million dollars of LGA and more bureaucratic form of personal tax relief (instead of simple progressive income taxes). This is just more of making the state budget problem into the local government budget problem! This gives the Republicans a free talking point to voters who have the Republican belief blinders.

• some Mall of America money giveaways (all business has to do is waive the "jobs" argument in front of labor)

• health care access bill which does not really impress me since it is not single payer health insurance, so no significant change happened. Somehow without taking out profit and taking out the bad health care insurance bureaucracy, the group thinks they achieved 15% cost containment. 12,000 more citizens will have access, presumably under state sponsored plans. Some nursing home care workers will get a raise.

• somehow $51 dollar permanent per pupil increase was achieved in education

• the bonding bill will allow the Governor's treasured Vermillion state park, plus repairs to the Minneapolis veterans home, more bridge repair and more CAPRA maintenance funds.

• the St Paul central corridor project, which puts Minnesota in next step of regional light rail. This is the best long term solution to high gas prices.

• the military vets get a $750 personal tax credit and a few other tax credits

• Duluth gets an arena (after all sports is more important than anything else, right)

This is based on quick notes, so don't hold me to great accuracy here. In fact, the press conference was quite ad hoc in its presentation.

I think the Democratic leadership did as well as they could with a Republican governor who wants to be a vice presidential candidate.

If you want to change this, let's go help elect Democrats in other districts! Lets ensure that we have a really good candidate for governor next time. Volunteer often!

I totally agree with Senator Larry Pogemiller that open meetings would have helped. We are still fighting defense and making no progress as a state. We can't make significant progress until we get rid of this governor.