After much prodding from Republican leadership in the Legislature, House DFLers have brought Gov. Mark Dayton's plan to raise billions of dollars in taxes in the form of a bill.

At some point this year, whether it comes in time for the May 23 adjournment date or not, the Republican-controlled Legislature will strike a deal with DFL Gov. Mark Dayton that balances the 2012-13 general fund budget. But whether it will make good on a promise from all parties to end the state's longstanding structural deficit remains very much in doubt - and the signs so far are not good.

So far in 2011, calls by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and labor unions for a large bonding bill have fallen on deaf ears at the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Former Republican Rep. Dave Bishop remembers sitting in the office of then-House Speaker Steve Sviggum, trying to calm him down. Sviggum was fuming, as Bishop recalls, because he had just been voted down on an issue by the executive board, a small group of GOP representatives that serve as caucus advisers to the speaker of the House of Representatives.

The most important single word in the health and human services bills being considered by the GOP-controlled Legislature is "waiver." Both the House and Senate proposals - although markedly different - rely on significant cost savings achieved by obtaining a global waiver from the federal government to remake the state's Medicaid program. The House is looking to book $300 million in savings, while the Senate anticipates cutting costs by roughly $600 million through relief from federal Medicaid mandates.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue sent a letter to House Taxes Chair Greg Davids Monday, saying his omnibus tax package would raise property taxes for homeowners and businsses across the state while making the tax system more regressive.

When Senate Republican Taxes Chairwoman Julianne Ortman rolled out her omnibus tax package last week, Capitol watchers were struck by the many differences between her strategy and that of her House counterpart, GOP Rep. Greg Davids.

When news broke last week that longtime former House Chief Clerk Ed Burdick had died, representatives took time to reminisce on the chamber floor. Preston Republican Rep. Greg Davids remembered a time when the clock struck midnight on the last night of session. The Legislature was constitutionally required to adjourn, but had yet to finish its work.

The House GOP proposal includes a $221-million income tax reduction for lower and middle income Minnesotans for the 2012-2013 biennium.

Although the issue of medical marijuana seems dead for the duration of Session 2011, one related issue is making its way through the legislative machinery. Industrial hemp is gaining momentum at the Capitol, even though a proposal on the subject appears destined for trouble in public safety committees.