Special session called

Minnesota's much anticipated special legislative session will concentrate on flood relief and will convene at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The limited agenda for a session that's expected to last only one day left area legislators contacted Monday disappointed for various reasons.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced the scheduled convening of the special session Monday afternoon.

Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, noted Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Friday directive calling for $31.8 million of state aid for the state assistance for southeastern Minnesota.

Heavy rains and flash flooding devastated southeastern Minnesota, killing seven and leaving behind millions in property damage. Seven Minnesota counties have been declared federal disaster areas.

While some lawmakers had hoped that transportation and bridges would be addressed in the special session Howes said federal dollars will keep the bridge project going until the Legislature convenes in February.

"If we're going to have one (a legislative session dealing with transportation) it would make common sense to find out exactly how much money we need," Howes said. The veteran lawmaker also expressed concern about how much transportation money would be claimed by transit and light rail projects.

Howes said he would like to see the session be a little longer so the business people and residents affected by the floods would be able to testify.

"I want to hear from them," Howes said. "I don't want to just rush in and hear the governor or (Senate Majority Leader) Pogemiller or House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. We're the ones that are supposed to make the decision, not just three people."

Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, said he was glad the Legislature was going to be able to help flood victims whose lives had been turned upside down but he had hoped other issues would have been addressed.

He said other issues he would have liked to act on include the Interstate 35W bridge, drought, major hail damage, local government aid, property tax relief and bonding projects with imminent deadlines.

"Every day we don't do something for the people of the city of Rushford or the people affected ... is one more day of turmoil for them," he said.

Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, charged the governor with a lack of leadership, stating that he was unwilling to work with legislators on issues where compromise could have been reached such as transportation, bonding projects and property tax relief.

"He makes these initial promises, but won't give us specifics," she said. "It's been very difficult to negotiate with the governor."

Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, said the three issues he would have liked to see addressed were flood relief, transportation (relating to bridges and emergency needs) and passage of a tax bill without an inflation factor the governor did not back. That tax bill, Koering said, would have helped out counties and cities financially.

Money to help deficient bridges also was a priority for Koering. While the 2008 Legislature will convene in February, Koering said that legislation might not be passed until March or April.

After the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, there was immediate talk of massive new investment in road and bridge work, fueled partly by an increase in the state gas tax.

But the elected officials struggled to craft a plan acceptable to majority legislative Democrats, Pawlenty and his GOP allies.

Action on a long-term transportation spending plan - something that has eluded lawmakers for years - will have to wait until the 2008 regular session convenes in February.

There also was talk of a bill that would provide property tax breaks to homeowners in places where rates are climbing fast. That too was left for later.

(This story includes information from The Associated Press.)

MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.