House passes $579 million grab bag bill

Working into the wee hours of the morning, the Minnesota House narrowly passed a cost-saving bill Friday that provides health insurance to domestic partners, including same-sex partners; cuts high-level political appointees; takes away Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau's car; and sells naming rights to almost every state building.

It also tries to help protect migrating birds from bumping into the State Capitol.

The grab bag came in the broad bill that would finance state government for the next two years. It took more than one shot at Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, whose assistant commissioners, deputy commissioners and lower-level gubernatorial appointees would be cut by $16.5 million.

The bill restores domestic partner health insurance benefits to state employees, which were stripped from state employee contracts in 2003. It's estimated that including the domestic partner benefits would cost $24.3 million a year.

There was only minimal debate about the issue, coming well into the fifth hour of a debate on the House floor. Critics of the domestic partner provision said eligibility was too broad. It says domestic partners are legally competent adults who have entered into a "committed interdependent relationship" and share a common residence.

"Pretty much anybody, even someone on your mind or who you considered dating at one time, could get domestic partner benefits. It's ridiculous," said House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall.

Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, who is a lesbian, bristled at the remarks.

"Don't belittle what this is about. At least you are not comparing us to dogs this year," Clark said. "Don't say this is just about a friend. This is a hard-fought civil right."

Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, chairwoman of the House State Government Finance Division, said the domestic partner benefits would make state employment more attractive to a broader group of potential workers, helping in recruitment and retention, particularly in the state's colleges and universities system.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said the provision would be vetoed. "State government should be tightening its belt and trying to reduce costs and benefits, not increase them. The governor has vetoed similar measures before and does not support this version," he said.

Naming rights and wrongs

The $579 million bill, which passed 69-62, makes $44 million in cuts to state government operations. Kahn said it makes inroads into improvements in IT systems and secures state jobs. Rep. Joyce Peppin, R- Rogers, called the measure "extremely controversial policy legislation, full of wasteful spending, irresponsible choices and misplaced priorities that will certainly be vetoed by the governor."

Among the larger provisions were some sure-fire talk radio fodder, including:

• Directing that, during bird migration seasons in the spring and fall, state-owned and state-leased buildings should turn off their lights between midnight and dawn to keep the birds from becoming confused.

• That the state can sell naming rights to state-owned buildings, except the Capitol, the Minnesota Judicial Center and the State Office Building.

• Prohibiting the naming of councils, buildings, roads or other entities after living people. It would eliminate references in law to such things as the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council (named after former state Sen. Bob Lessard). Kahn said that too many of the things were named after white men who are former DFL senators.

"Isn't there anyone else in any category for naming something after?" she asked.

Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, who worked with Lessard to get the council established, tried unsuccessfully to have the provision removed. "You shouldn't care whether this is a woman or a man," he said. "It's strictly a coincidence that they happen to be males."

Public safety bill provision

On another bill, dealing with public safety, a proposal by Seifert to deny nonprofit tax status and prohibit grants to groups helping alleged terrorists or high-seas pirates fell short. Seifert was aiming his proposal at the nonprofit Somali Justice Advocacy Center, which has assisted the family of a man being held in connection with an attack on a U.S. ship in the Indian Ocean.

It was ruled out of order Friday when Seifert tried to add it to the public safety bill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mark Brunswick • 651-222-1636