TV report shows drinking at Capitol in closing days of session
Sure, you can get a bill through both Houses of the legislature. You can bring home the bacon for your constituents. But can you put away a 12-pack of Leinenkugel??
Late at night, in the closing days of the legislative session, lobbyists, state workers and even some lawmakers gathered in offices at the State Capitol to drink beer, wine and liquor, KMSP-TV reported Wednesday night.
The station showed trash cans full of beer, wine and liquor bottles and suggested that at least some the alcohol of might have been provided by lobbyists. Lobbyists are not allowed to give gifts to legislators.
"What's troubling me is the coziness of the lobbyists and lawmakers,'' former House Majority Leader Ernest Lindstrom said after watching hidden-camera video taken by the station.
Lindstrom, a Republican who was majority leader in 1971 and 1972, said he had never seen such things before because he prohibited lobbyists from bringing alcohol into the Capitol.
"The appearance of impropriety - it weakens the whole process and causes people to feel like they're disappointed in their Legislature,'' he said.
KMSP said state policy forbids state workers from drinking on the job, even during rest breaks and overtime work.
The station taped someone carrying a cooler into the office of Senate Majority Whip Linda Higgins. The Minneapolis DFLer was on the Senate floor at the time, in the final hours before adjournment, but several people were in her office drinking. KMSP said most of them were lobbyists. One lobbyist was sitting behind her desk, drinking a beer.
Hmm...methinks that might be sour grapes I smell, no? And I'm not talking White Zinfandel here, y'all. If someone had thought to invite Lindstrom to one of their parties, would we even be having this discussion now? Don't Minnesota Republicans have bigger walleyes to fry??
