The gavel has dropped and session is over.  It was quite the site to see.  The Democrat majority had no idea what the heck they were doing and they barely got the bills passed.  In fact the Democrats rammed through their last bill 3 minutes after the constitutional deadline for adjournment passed.  It would be interesting to see that one go to the courts, but it won’t.  It’s not going to matter anyway, that was the huge tax increase bill which the Governor will veto (again) anyway.

I must say it was a long, but exciting day.  It was very interesting to be there.  Now it remains to be seen what the Governor will do with the bills.  He might veto a few of them, because the legislature did not reach a deal with him on any of them.

For my teacher friends out there you’ll love this one: The Democrats rammed through a bill which increases the per pupil formula by 2% this year and 1% next year.  Even in the face of a $4 billion budget deficit the Republicans gave the per pupil formula an increase of 4% each year.  I guess Education Minnesota might want to re-thing their “mediocrity” television ads.

The other bills weren’t that great, with more money going to moving Minnesota backwards when it comes to welfare reforms and making Minnesota a welfare magnet then goes to Nursing Homes.  I’d like to take care of the grandparents myself.

Also worth note the Democrats cut off debate on the House floor and knowingly and willingly silenced the Republicans on the floor, so they couldn’t even ask questions.  Rep. Kohls put tape over his mouth in protest.  You could see the blatant disregard for rules by the Democrats in the whole process, that part was very upsetting.

Overall though I believe it was a Republican victory.  Republicans stopped the $5 billion in tax increases, and many other bad provisions.  (It still boggles  my mind how big of a thirst the Democrats have when it comes to tax increases.  When he state has a $2 billion budget surplus they wanted to raise taxes by $5 billion.)  Democrats failed to deliver on All Day K, Property Tax Relief, and their other promises.

Overall it was a good session.  Now it’s going to be interesting to see how the Democrats put their spin on things, and if the Governor will call a special session.