GAMC veto override attempt expected in Senate today
The Minnesota Senate Thursday is expected to try to override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of a bill that extended health care coverage for the poor.
Pawlenty vetoed the General Assistance Medical Care bill last week even though it had strong support in the House and Senate. The first step in an override is in the Senate where Democrats have a veto-proof majority.
In the House, Democrats would need three Republicans to vote with them to override. DFL Rep. Erin Murphy of St. Paul said lawmakers are working with the governor to try to come up with a compromise, but she said an override can happen in the House.
"When you put together a well reasoned proposal and work across party lines, you get a strong vote, which we did," Murphy said. "We're going to continue to do our hard work. We think a lot of Republicans voted for this proposal because it's a fiscally responsible, morally responsible proposal and we hope they stick with their vote, if it gets to that."
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Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said negotiations will continue to resolve the GAMC dispute. He called the Senate vote a non-story.
"If they wanted to take up it up on the floor five minutes from now they could override it," McClung said. "So that's not really the issue. In the House, House Republicans have said they would stand with us. So we'll have to see if it gets to any of that, but our preference is that we have these conversations."
Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers said Republicans will uphold Gov. Pawlenty's veto. He said the debate over GAMC should be a part of an overall budget agreement.
DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher suggested the earliest the House would attempt the override is on Monday.