By the time the eight-week special session of the Minnesota state legislature finally adjourned July 13, many frustrated voices ? in letters to the editor, on talk radio, and at union meetings ? were ready to declare "a pox on both your houses" to the Republican-controlled House and the DFL-controlled Senate.

State employees, in particular, were seething about the eight-day government shutdown that kicked-in July 1 when lawmakers couldn?t even agree to a "lights on" bill.

The 2005 session ? and the special session in particular ? may be remembered for many things, but voters should remember that it was the DFLers in the Senate and the House who supported efforts to keep state government running. Notably, the DFLers in the Senate used their power as the majority to block the Governor?s efforts to slash MinnesotaCare, a health insurance program for low income workers and working families.

Credit is due to Senator Linda Berglin, DFL?Minneapolis, who dug in her heels and refused to allow the program to be gutted. That took legislative skill ? and courage.

Berglin waged a similar fight two years ago, but without equally steadfast resolve from then Senate Majority leader John Hottinger, DFL?St. Peter. That year, as the session's end neared, labor and its allies in the Minnesota is Watching Coalition were organizing for a final mass event to argue their case to lawmakers. Suddenly, Hottinger was on the news, announcing that he was dropping the fight and agreeing to many of the positions advocated by Governor Pawlenty and the Republican-controlled House.

"Two years ago, Senator Hottinger rolled over and played dead before they even started," said Louise Sundin, president of Minneapolis Federation of Teachers Local 59, discussing this year's legislative session at the July 13 delegate meeting of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council.

"This year [with Senator Dean Johnson as Majority Leader], they were holding firm for a lot of important things," she said.

"We can't paint everyone with the same brush," Sundin maintained. "Our friends were holding firm for a reason."

Highlights of the special session
Here are some of the highlights of the special session:

? The state will enact a 75-cents-per pack tax on cigarettes (dubbed a "health impact fee" by "no new taxes" Pawlenty);
? Local municipalities will receive $49 million in local government aid;
? No cuts to MinnesotaCare, the state's health insurance program for low wage workers;
? A four percent increase ? $800 million in new money, for schools;
? A stop-gap transportation funding bill which includes $46 million for transit, preventing deeper service cuts to Metro Transit.

Stadium proposals in limbo
The special session adjourned without taking any action on proposals for new stadiums for the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings, and the University of Minnesota.

Hennepin County's proposed Twins stadium may not survive this inaction.

Performance pay for teachers
While the governor failed to win plans to extend gambling in the state, and also compromised by increasing revenues through a higher cigarette tax, he did win one policy goal: the "Q-comp" plan to enact merit pay for teachers. Local 59 president Sundin said she welcomes this initiative as a way to treat teaching like other professions. "Our younger members in particular aren't particularly satisfied with being stuck in a lock-step salary grid," she said. "They want to be able to earn more."

Steve Share edits the Minneapolis Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. E-mail him at laborreview@mplscluc.com or visit the CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org