Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he has begun to doubt lawmakers' willingness to focus a potential special session only on emergency issues.
Pawlenty, a Republican, voiced those doubts in a letter to Democratic-Farmer-Labor leaders Tuesday. He said his questions were prompted after reading an article in the West Central Tribune newspaper and talks his staffers have had with lawmakers.
"The sentiments expressed in the attached article and the discussions with legislators since our meeting last week raise questions about the DFL majority's willingness to keep a potential special session properly focused," he wrote.
Since the Interstate-35W bridge collapse on Aug. 1, lawmakers and the governor have considered the possibility of an interim legislative session to deal with the disaster. The massive flooding in southeastern Minnesota on Aug. 19 further fueled those discussions.
But the governor has said he will only call lawmakers into special session if he receives a detailed pre-agreement on what bills will be passed and the length of the session.
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