An energetic and fast-typing crew of Twitterers kept the information flowing fast and furiously Sunday, as the Legislature ruined a gorgeous afternoon for many on its penultimate day.
As House DFLers tried unsuccessfully to override two vetoes, constant, albeit brief, updates flowed from the gallery and the hallways, even from the House floor.
Politics in Minnesota was a go-to messenger for many, with Tweets of its own and RT (ReTweets) from others. PIM also posted regular longer updates on its website. DFL Rep. John Lesch shared his own thoughts from the House floor, via Twitter and Facebook: “John Lesch thinks he just heard Rep. Buesgens say, “I feel like I’m in the toilet zone, here.” Did he mean “twilight”? Or did he really mean “toilet”?”
Some other Twitter examples:
During the debate on the attempted override of the General Assistance Medical Care cuts:
“Carlson: i’ve been here 37 years, this is the toughest afternoon i’ve ever had… toughest vote, know what has to be done….” (That’s a report on a floor speech by DFL Rep. Lyndon Carlson of Crystal, who was first elected to the House in 1972.)
“RT @PatKessler: MN House debate quotes from: Jesus, Book of Matthew, HHH (4 times), and Ronald Reagan”
“RT @tomscheck: Is GOP protecting Pawlenty or walking the plank for him? Factoid: GOP has lost mbrs in Hs/Sn every cycle since he’s been gov”
“87-47 veto override not sustained, services cuts about 48 hours away, not exactly a negotiating move…. a bit of silence now”
“RT @laurabrod i guess point of ovrde vt is to show interest groups the Dems “tried.”There is time to negot a solution rather than just “try”
Later in the evening:
“Yeh RT @Stowydad: Air seems to be coming out of the place. Been almost 19 hrs since last known talks b/w Leg./Admin. Am I missing something?”
“RT @MAKMinnesota: It has been 20 hours sincei last heard from Govs office.The 12:30 am Gov off must have been the “throw in the towel” offer” (That’s Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher.)
“RT @steve_gottwalt: Gov’s Office McClung)-We have been at Capitol all day today, havent received a new offer from the DFL,or heard from DFL”
“RT @RepKeithDowney: Gov’s veto of $1B DFL tax incr upheld w a bipartisan 85-49vote.Barring a last-min (miracle?) negot, session all but over” (That’s Republican Rep. Keith Downey of Edina.)
“This was pretty funny, Rep. Kate Knuth accidentally sprayed her thermos or something onto Rep. Bobby Champion, he’s drying off now.”
