Speaker leaves door open to special session

published 4/17/2009

Still hopeful there will be no special session needed to solve the $4.6 billion state deficit, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Mpls) left the door open that the Legislature may be back after the May 18 constitutional deadline.

The previous two sessions she has shepherded as speaker have ended on time, but she said during a press briefing that this year has some unprecedented issues. (Watch)

It is not just negotiating resolution to the deficit, but that the “ocean of federal money” from the stimulus package presents complications and delays, she said.  “As an example, she said requested fiscal notes needed from the administration to craft the omnibus health and human services finance bills have been delayed. Therefore, finance bills for those areas are still waiting for committee action.

The delay may be due to the level of staffing needed to process the information, she said.  “My understanding is it has been more complex for them.”  However, Kelliher stressed the importance of legislators having the needed information to develop “a complete understanding before making their decisions.  Otherwise, if big decisions are made with not enough time left to process what the effect will be on Minnesotans, then we’re going to get into a real bind at the end.”

Many of the House’s 13 omnibus finance bills are expected to be acted on next week, meaning there will likely be many long floor sessions before the bills head off to anticipated conference committees to work out agreements with the Senate versions.

- Lee Ann Schutz