45 Republicans Commit To Uphold Transit Bill Veto
Whoever said a little pressure didn't help keep the team in line? The threat was real. Kathy Tinglestad, Ron Erhardt and Neil Peterson were solidly in favor of overiding a veto of the transportation* bill (*a misnomer, it's primarily a transit bill). Rod Hamilton, a usually solid conservative, was being tempted by dem promises on his Highway 60. Bud and Dean were in the dems crosshairs. In our tiny minority the threat of irrelevance began to chew on the minds of legislators longing for meaning in their public service. The overide is toast in the senate. The Governor's veto was clearly in danger.
Coverage of Speaker Kelliher's Monte Carlo dinner date with Bud Heidegerken and Dean Urdahl helped solidify the middling republicans commitment to uphold the Governor's veto of the transit bill. Either one of those defections would have left the Governor vulnerable to overide (assuming Margaret could unify all the democrats).
While the Taxpayer's League Pledge fell flat on conservative legislators (only 5 of 49 signed)the informal scorecard today reads 45 republicans upholding the expected veto. One vote short of defeat for Pawlenty. But that's one big vote! If that coalition holds through the next few weeks the compromise bill (the one that the democrats say is an impossibility today) may have a chance to inject some sanity into this years taxapalooza.
Are there any democrats who will stand behind the Governor's veto?
It definitely is time to play some offense.
Cross-posted at Wright County GOP.
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