MORE NEWS ON JOHNSON FOR GOVERNOR
Majority Leader Johnson noncommittal on run for governor
Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson said recently that he has thought about running for governor, but has yet to make a decision.
The question about running for governor came at the end of a legislative breakfast meeting at which Johnson and Rep. Al Juhnke, both Democrats from Willmar, spoke about the legislative session which ended in mid-July. About 50 people attended the Aug. 24 gathering in Willmar.
"I don’t know," he said. "My job as majority leader is to prepare for the 2006 Legislative Session."
People have approached him, and "there have been some conversations," but he is focusing on his legislative job for now, Johnson said.
"If I were taller, it would be an easier decision," he added.
The 5-foot, 7-inch lawmaker has used jokes about his height to deflect the governor questions for months. During the session, he did it with the State Capitol press corps. He did it in a Tribune interview last month, too.
Juhnke and Johnson spoke about some local issues and addressed the three issues they said led to the extended legislative session this year.
Spending on education, health care and local government aid were some of the last issues resolved in the session.
Original proposals in those areas were inadequate, and legislators' insistence on better funding did cause the session to run longer, Johnson said.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty originally proposed no increase in local government aid, cutting thousands of working people from state-sponsored health insurance, and smaller increases for public schools.
By the end of the session, the Legislature approved more local government aid, maintained health insurance for the working poor and provided public schools with increases that are larger than inflation. It was all funded by a new cigarette tax called a Health Impact Fee.
"The education system starting on July 1 of this year is more stable," Johnson said.
Questioned about possible reforms in the Legislature, both lawmakers said they would support a law that would allow for continue spending at current levels if a new state budget is not done on time.
It would avoid a government shutdown like the state experienced in July, Johnson said. Source: Detroit Lakes Tribune, September 8, 2005
Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson said recently that he has thought about running for governor, but has yet to make a decision.
The question about running for governor came at the end of a legislative breakfast meeting at which Johnson and Rep. Al Juhnke, both Democrats from Willmar, spoke about the legislative session which ended in mid-July. About 50 people attended the Aug. 24 gathering in Willmar.
"I don’t know," he said. "My job as majority leader is to prepare for the 2006 Legislative Session."
People have approached him, and "there have been some conversations," but he is focusing on his legislative job for now, Johnson said.
"If I were taller, it would be an easier decision," he added.
The 5-foot, 7-inch lawmaker has used jokes about his height to deflect the governor questions for months. During the session, he did it with the State Capitol press corps. He did it in a Tribune interview last month, too.
Juhnke and Johnson spoke about some local issues and addressed the three issues they said led to the extended legislative session this year.
Spending on education, health care and local government aid were some of the last issues resolved in the session.
Original proposals in those areas were inadequate, and legislators' insistence on better funding did cause the session to run longer, Johnson said.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty originally proposed no increase in local government aid, cutting thousands of working people from state-sponsored health insurance, and smaller increases for public schools.
By the end of the session, the Legislature approved more local government aid, maintained health insurance for the working poor and provided public schools with increases that are larger than inflation. It was all funded by a new cigarette tax called a Health Impact Fee.
"The education system starting on July 1 of this year is more stable," Johnson said.
Questioned about possible reforms in the Legislature, both lawmakers said they would support a law that would allow for continue spending at current levels if a new state budget is not done on time.
It would avoid a government shutdown like the state experienced in July, Johnson said. Source: Detroit Lakes Tribune, September 8, 2005
2 Comments:
What an idiot.
Pawlenty will whoop him.
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