Capitol Retort: Shortlist, procrastination, signing, vacation

Editor’s note: Welcome back to Capitol Retort, our weekly review of issues in state and national news, with a rotating cast of local characters. Answers have been edited for length and clarity but not unity. Any instances of agreement are accidental.

Question 1: Donald Trump’s list of 11 potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees includes Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice David Stras. What job would you like to be shortlisted for in a Trump administration?

Javier Morillo, president, SEIU Local 26, and Democratic Party superdelegate: Minister in Charge of Migration to Canada. I will facilitate that for people.

Annette Meeks, founder and CEO, Freedom Foundation of Minnesota: I just thought it was wonderful that somebody took notice of some of the excellent jurists Gov. Pawlenty appointed. Most people have a top 10 list; I guess Donald Trump had to supersize that and release 11 [names]. But to be included on that list was quite impressive. Kudos to Justice Stras.

Robyne Robinson, arts and culture director, Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Foundation, former Fox 9 anchor: I am so lucky — I’ve had every dream job I’ve ever thought of. I turned down a job to do communications for Paisley Park. Sometimes I wonder what that would’ve been. I turned down another job I still kick myself about. I was offered NBC’s Rome bureau chief for finance. I’m an idiot.

Question 2: Much of this session’s work waited until near the end. Are you a procrastinator?

Meeks: Can I get back to you on that? [Laughs.] I am a procrastinator of the first order, and especially when you have big decisions to make. And in this case, deep divisions. I believe it when [House Speaker Kurt Daudt] says there are no votes for light rail. That makes it tough to negotiate for a future light rail project. I believe there are no votes for a gas tax when he says that. So procrastination just becomes inevitable. If it were easy they would’ve done it in March.

Robinson: I’m a total procrastinator. I make a plan and it still doesn’t get done on time. Sometimes people do their best work when they’re under pressure. Most people on TV operate that way. Hold [legislators’] heels to flame, they will get deals done that they probably, if they had all year, would have dragged out and made a lot of media circuses about.

Morillo: I am a procrastinator. That said, we go through this every time because — it’s insane — we have a part-time Legislature. It’s just crazy that we expect people to run a state budget, manage the state’s government, economy and everything, and do that in a few short months. So it comes down to the end, and it ends up being all so extremely undemocratic — a few people in a small room making decisions while the rest of the caucus is twiddling its thumbs.

Question 3: Gov. Dayton has to decide whether to sign bills the Legislature sends him, including some very thick omnibus bills. Do you read every word before signing something? 

Meeks: I would like to meet the person [who reads] their first car loan or first mortgage thoroughly. Part of the problem is just the legal jargon. I’m not a lawyer, and you get these massive documents. I feel their pain. That’s pretty tough. On the other hand that’s why you hire really smart people to guide you through the process. You have an attorney review your mortgage. I had an attorney review my office lease. [Dayton] has had some of the oddest things happen. Remember, “I didn’t know [personal] seat licenses were in the Vikings stadium bill?”

Robinson: I do, and I watch people get very irritated. It makes me speed up, then I worry that I’ve missed something that’s going to come back and haunt me. It’s interesting to watch people squirm when you’re trying to read each detail. My father always emphasized to me that people often think people of color and women, they can get over on. So he taught me it doesn’t matter how long, you sit there until you’re finished and satisfied that it’s not going to come back and haunt you.

Morillo: It’s to be expected in a person in the governor’s position would have staff to read every word of things and brief him, and I think that’s perfectly fine. However, one should never say, “Well, I didn’t read it myself.” An honest answer, but a politically unwise one.

Question 4: Some people at the Capitol like to schedule a personal vacation after the big end-of-session push. Any recommendations? 

Meeks: That’s a great idea to unwind after a stressful [session], and especially an election year. They’re going to start getting hit real soon, with parades every weekend, starting in June. It’s really tough, when all 201 [legislative seats] are going to be on the ballot, trying to find family time. So, yeah, go now! Although it’s hard to tell people to get out of state during the best weather week of the year.

Robinson: I’ve always envied teachers and legislators. I never had a job like that, I can’t imagine what that’s like to just, “I’m gone.” If I had the opportunity, I would make sure that everything is done, because I’m not coming back if I leave. If I had the opportunity to be gone for two months, it would not be in the state of Minnesota. I would be headed to Greece, or Spain, or visiting friends in London.

Morillo: I would recommend a meditation and massage retreat for everyone. Silence … and remind yourself you’re a human being.

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