Many Capitol habitués with and without election certificates complain that the committee structure of recent years has created a more frenzied process that stretches legislators too thin and is too hard for lobbyists to follow.

Two weeks before Minnesota's political contribution refund (PCR) program expired, Rep. Julie Bunn, DFL-Lake Elmo, and about nine volunteers unleashed a full-tilt fundraising drive.

The state of Minnesota is proceeding with plans to establish a $600 million line of credit to get through the cash-poor months ahead. And while Minnesota Management and Budget Department Commissioner Tom Hanson said on Tuesday that he doesn't want to call on the state's banker to get a short-term loan, he also conceded that his department might need to tap into the state's line of credit with U.S. Bank before the end of 2010.

DFL candidates for governor are jetting across the state Monday to appeal to voters on the eve of the primary election.

If the phrase “sure thing” can be applied anywhere in politics, it might be appropriate in a small part of St. Paul, including Falcon Heights and a swath of territory north of Interstate 94.

The Minnesota House this afternoon approved a bill that would substantially alter the authority of the governor to "unallot" funds from the general fund budget.

The House is expected to debate legislation dealing with the state's forfeiture statute today. "I think that will be one of the first orders of business we take up," said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, on a call with reporters this morning.

DFL Leadership—Sens. Larry Pogemiller (Minneapolis) and Tarryl Clark (St. Cloud) and Reps. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (Minneapolis) and Tony Sertich (Chisholm)—descend to the governor's office for a meeting.

The 2010 legislative session is not going to end amicably. With less than two weeks left before the House and Senate are scheduled to adjourn, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and DFL legislative leaders are at sharp odds over how to close out the state’s remaining budget deficit.

The upshot of the Minnesota Supreme Court's unallotment ruling is that nobody can says for certain exactly how large a budget deficit the state faces in the current biennium. But House Majority Leader Tony Sertich expressed confidence today that the legislature can still finish its business prior to its scheduled adjournment in less than two weeks.