Wenzel decries state legislative rush

State Rep. Steve Wenzel, DFL-Little Falls, Wednesday asked Gov. Jesse Ventura to allow time for public review of any budget agreement before setting the time for a special session.

He expressed concern that tax and budget bills may be rammed through without enough time for either lawmakers or the public to see what's in them.

"Once an agreement is reached, we are going to be considering nine major bills, each full of complex programs and changes, each the size of a Twin Cities phone book, and trying to pass them all in one day," Wenzel said. "I want to make sure that both members of the Legislature and the public get a chance to look at them for a day or two before we have to pass them."

Wenzel said the early childhood education and child care programs that passed Monday night came to the House floor eight minutes before adjournment. No one except the five members of the conference committee knew what was in them, he said.