Wrangling over traffic safety bill sparks fighting words at Capitol

A dispute between Governor Pawlenty's staff and a DFL senator Tuesday led the lawmaker to issue a pointed invitation to the governor's spokesman to settle things the old-fashioned way.

Senator Steve Murphy was not happy to read a statement from the Governor's communications director Brian McClung implying that Murphy had stretched the truth in earlier statements to the media.

Murphy, the Red Wing Democrat who heads the transportation committee and is often at odds with Pawlenty, said he was especially bothered by McClung's characterization.

"Mister McClung," Murphy remarked in an interview with KARE 11, "If you want to meet me out on the Capitol steps and we'll talk about your comments, I'm more than willing to be there."

Did he really want to fight McClung out on the Capitol steps?

"I just want to have a civil discussion with him because his comments are troubling at best," Murphy said, "When he calls my credibility into question. That's just not right."

Two out of three ain't bad

The fracas had its roots in the transportation policy bill which was being crafted by the House-Senate conference committee Murphy co-chairs.

The measure includes three sometimes controversial traffic safety initiates, including a primary offense seat belts law, passenger and time restrictions on teen drivers and rules that would keep children in booster seats longer.

Murphy has long argued that the measures will save lives and, in the long run, taxpayer money.

"We have the highest teen crash and fatality rate in the nation," Murphy told Kare, "Two weekends ago there were 10 people that died on our roads; nine were unbelted."

Murphy told reporters Tuesday morning a Pawlenty aide told him the bill would be "veto bait" if all three life-saving provisions remained. He took that to mean he had to choose two of the three in order to avoid a veto.

"Margaret Vesel from the Governor's office stated clearly that the Governor had major concerns with 3 provisions, safety provisions," Murphy told KARE.

"He was comfortable with two, but not three. I asked, 'That mean he's going to veto?' She said yes."

When asked which one he'd drop if he had to Murphy said it would be the rule keeping kids in booster seats until they turn eight-years-old, because the other two changes would save more lives based on staff projections.

But the Governor's spokesman, Brian McClung, sent a statement to KARE 11 and other media outlets, saying that Murphy wasn't on the level.

"Sen. Murphy's comments are untrue," McClung wrote, "This is just the latest example of erratic behavior by Sen. Murphy."

"It is possible that Sen. Murphy misinterpreted or intentionally misrepresented the information we shared with him and others."

When KARE 11 shared those remarks with Murphy he became a bit agitated, to put it mildly, and invited McClung to meet him on the Capitol steps.

He told KARE he'd even call Margaret Vesel, the governor's aide who spoke to him Monday, to the witness chair in his committee if that's what it took to prove he was telling the truth.

"If we need to bring in a stack of Bibles to start swearing people in that's what we'll do."

Pawlenty's concerns clarified

A couple of hours later Governor Pawlenty issued a letter to Murphy criticizing the way he framed the issue for the media.

"We are disappointed with your continued misstatements," Pawlenty wrote, "Your news conference this morning was not helpful as we seek to enact bipartisan legislation that advances public safety."

Pawlenty's letter cited his ongoing support for the primary seat belt law, and keeping youngsters in booster seats longer.

But he's insisting on giving parents more say in the teen driving part of the bill.

"We recommend that you revise the teen driving restrictions to allow for a parental opt-out," Pawlenty said in his letter to Murphy.

If the bill becomes law, newly minted teen drivers won't be able to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. during their first six months holding a license, unless it's connected to school or work.

They'd also be limited to one passenger who is not a sibling during that first half year on the road. During their second six months, that limit would increase to three non-sibling passengers.

When asked how the opt-out would be enforced, McClung said Driver and Vehicle Services would issue special cards to those young drivers who've been excused in writing by their parents. Those cards would be just as hard to counterfeit as driver's licenses are, according to McClung.

In the end the conference committee chose not to heed Pawlenty's advice, and approved a bill without the governor's parental opt-out language. As of 10:30 Tuesday night conferees were gathering to formally sign the conference committee report.

That report, unlike a regular bill, can not be amended on the floor. It must be approved as written or rejected.

McClung and Murphy never met for a throw-down out on the Capitol steps. But Murphy did call the governor's office to relay his frustration with McClung's comments.

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

Check out our KARE family of Web sites:
	takeKARE		Metromix
	Moms Like Me		Minnesota Bound
	Showcase Minnesota