Governor Tim Pawlenty sent a letter to Senate majority leader Larry Pogemiller and Speaker Margaret Anderson-Kelliher today outlining the conditions for a special legislative session.
The Governor is concerned about calling a special session before there is agreement on the entire agenda. If the Governor called a Special legislative session without such an agreement, the legislature could do anything it wished, and could stay in session for as long as it wished. This creates a high probability that the special session would become a vehicle for partisan politics.
Most Minnesota citizens are willing to see the legislature called back to deal with the I-35 Bridge collapse and flooding in Southeastern Minnesota. But they don’t want to see legislators engaged in partisan debate on issues for which there is no consensus.
A copy of the Governor’s letter to Legislative Leaders can be viewed at the link below. The Governor is right to insist upon a stipulated agenda before he calls a special session of the legislature.