UPDATED: Bipartisan Committee to Offer Third Option to Help Resolve Minnesota Shutdown

UPDATED: 2 p.m.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B) and Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25)

Some of Minnesota’s brightest political minds have put together a bipartisan committee tasked with devising a solution to the state’s $1.4 billion budget gap and ending the state shutdown.

The committee, which will begin its work as early as Wednesday, was created by former Minnesota politicians Vice President Walter Mondale, Gov. Arne Carlson and U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger.

“We were trying to find people with superb professional backgrounds and exemplary roles in impartial public leadership,” Mondale told reporters Tuesday morning at Minneapolis City Hall.

Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B), who represents Northfield, says Minnesota residents elected a Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton for a reason and that a third-party committee isn't necessary.

"We don't need a blue-ribbon commission to work this out," he said Tuesday following the announcement. "Bottom line is, it's between the Legislature and governor at this point."

Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25) is more open to the idea, saying the committee is no different than other individuals or groups who offer up ideas.

"These people are residents of Minnesota," he said. "We're always interested in hearing new ideas."

Members of the committee include:

• Steve Dille; Co-chair (former GOP state senator)
• Wayne Simoneau; Co-chair (former DFL state legislator)
• John Gunyou (city manager of Minnetonka)
• Jay Kiedrowski (former Finance commissioner under Gov. Rudy Perpich)
• Jim Campbell (former CEO of Wells Fargo)
• Kris Johnson (former vice president of Medtronic)
• Jim Schowalter (current Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner)

“This is as good a group as could have been assembled," Carlson said. "With John Gunyou and Jay Kiedrowski, in particular, we certainly have two of the best finance people in Minnesota history, as far as I’m concerned."

Carlson and Mondale each stressed the importance of finding a quick solution to the budget impasse—both for the state and people of Minnesota.

“Our fear is that large sums of money, large interests will come into Minnesota and cause a freezing of attitude and make it very difficult for compromise to become a reality,” Carlson said.

Mondale added: “We understand that thousands of people depend on Minnesota’s ability to resolve this crisis quickly.”

While Woodard agrees a quick resolution is paramount, he is optimistic Dayton, a Democrat, and the Republican-led Legislature, will come to an agreement soon.

Short of finalizing a 2011-12 budget, Woodard said there are several options on the table to help Minnesota limp through until the two sides come to terms.

Three variations of a "lights on" bill have been offered, Woodard said, which would keep Minnesota running at 60, 80 or 100 percent as a continuation of the previous biennium. The other option would be to pass the "popular" budget bills, which encompass public safety, K-12 education, higher education and the judiciary.

"Now is the time to do it," Woodard said of the "lights on" bills or passing the "popular" budget bills. "I think (Dayton) is a compassionate guy and I think he sees what Minnesota is going through."

DeKruif said the two sides are also close on a transportation bill and said the GOP has said they'd give up the 1.4 percent that separated them and Dayton so the Minnesota Department of Transportation could get back to work.

"We can't afford to lose our construction season," he said.

But as talks between Dayton and GOP leaders have started up again following the Fourth of July weekend, at least for a little time on Tuesday attention shifted to the committee formed by a trio of Minnesota's political leaders of yesteryear.

None of the three will serve on the committee. Their role was one of creation and sponsorship.   

“We’re not in this to negotiate,” Carlson said. “We’re in this to provide a third solution. I would anticipate the ultimate support of the both parties.”  

Carlson said he expects the committee to come up with a workable solution no later than Friday. Whether legislators and the governor will heed any recommendations offered from the group is an open question.

For now, Woodard and DeKruif will play the role of part-cheerleader and part-sounding board.

Last week, Woodard answered phone calls, emails and spoke face-to-face with constituents concerned over the potential—and now for real—shutdown. That won't change, Woodard said, until he's called to the Capitol to cast a vote.

DeKruif spent time in Elysian on the Fourth of July talking with constituents, hearing that everyone wants to see the shutdown end as quickly as possible. If a full budget can't pass, he said, at least the budgets that they agree on or are close on should be passed.

"We should just close those out," DeKruif said.

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Some of Minnesota’s brightest political minds have put together a bipartisan committee tasked with devising a solution to the state’s $1.7 billion budget gap and ending the state shutdown.

The committee, which will begin its work as early as Thursday, was created by former Minnesota politicians Vice President Walter Mondale, Gov. Arne Carlson and U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger.

“We were trying to find people with superb professional backgrounds and exemplary roles in impartial public leadership,” Mondale told reporters Monday morning at Minneapolis City Hall.

Members of the committee include:

• Steve Dille; Co-chair (former GOP state senator)
• Wayne Simoneau; Co-chair (former DFL state legislator)
• John Gunyou (city manager of Minnetonka)
• Jay Kiedrowski (former Finance commissioner under Gov. Rudy Perpich)
• Jim Campbell (former CEO of Wells Fargo)
• Kris Johnson (former vice president of Medtronic)
• Jim Schowalter (current Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner)

“This is as good a group as could have been assembled," Carlson said. "With John Gunyou and Jay Kiedrowski, in particuar, we certainly have two of the best finance people in Minnesota history, as far as I’m concerned."

Carlson and Mondale each stressed the importance of finding a quick solution to the budget impasse—both for the state and people of Minnesota.

“Our fear is that large sums of money, large interests will come into Minnesota and cause a freezing of attitude and make it very difficult for compromise to become a reality,” Carlson said.

Mondale added: “We understand that thousands of people depend on Minnesota’s ability to resolve this crisis quickly.”

Neither Mondale nor Carlson will serve on the committee. Their role was one of creation and sponsorship.   

“We’re not in this to negotiate,” Carlson said. “We’re in this to provide a third solution. I would anticipate the ultimate support of the both parties.”  

Carlson said he expects the committee to come up with a workable solution no later than Friday. Whether legislators and the governor will heed any recommendations offered from the group is an open question.