Progress of the State
There was a lot of waiting well into the wee hours of Sunday morning. So what do members of the House and Senate do at 2:40am on the day before adjournment during a recess? About 30 legislators, Republicans and Democrats, headed onward and upward. With the Sergeant of Arms and Capitol Security’s blessing, we slipped through the door that leads to the balcony next to the Golden Horses, also known as the Quadriga. They barely stirred as we slipped by them. What a beautiful sight, standing atop the capitol overlooking the city of St. Paul. Wanna go higher? We headed up an even narrower spiral staircase inside the massive dome to the smaller balcony near the ball at the top of the dome. As we look west, University Avenue lights the way to the Minneapolis skyline. John Ireland Boulevard illuminates a path to the Cathedral to our left. It is eerily quiet at this late hour. After about 15 minutes of fresh air with a breathtaking view, we descend. Into the Senate chamber. It’s time to vote on the Health Care Reform Bill.
Meanwhile we process a few other bills while the House and Senate leadership continue to work out a budget deal. The Quadriga is better known as Progress of the State. At 4am that progress is a little slower than we’d like. But progress will come, as we set our sights on Sunday then Monday…the final day of the session.
