Senators
versus
Gridlockers
Score:
Senators
4,
Gridlockers
3
FIFTH
INNING
Down
by
one
run,
the
Gridlockers
came
to
bat
in
the
fifth
inning
striking
hard
and
fast.
Their
batters
waited
patiently
while
the
Senators
sliced
and
diced
sticky
issues.
Soon
enough
a
nugget
of
disagreement
was
found
and
when
teamwork
started
to
unravel,
gridlock
became
evident:
- The
Senators
were
given
nearly
a
50%
raise,
but
still
many
resented
a
bill
submitted
by
Senator
Scott
Jensen
(R-Chaska)
disallowing
per
diem
meal
allowances
during
special
sessions.
- Real
ID
continued
to
have
trouble
gaining
traction.
- Preemption
was
controversial
and
volatile
with
agreement
hard
to
come
by.
- Minnesota
expansion
of
medical
assistance
had
provided
coverage
for
more
than
200,000
people
costing
nearly
two
billion
dollars,
but
the
feds
talked
of
slashing
their
support.
- An
infusion
of
$900
million
into
the
beleaguered
individual
marketplace
was
not
enough
to
secure
participation
by
the
not-for-profit
Minnesota
health
insurance
carriers.
- Agreeable
spending
targets
for
the
two-year
budget
cycle
were
elusive
and
vexing.
Seamy
Plod
put
the
icing
on
the
cake
by
hitting
a
grand
slam
for
the
Gridlockers
who
finished
their
at-bats
with
a
7
to
4
lead.
The
bottom
of
the
fifth
inning
found
Governor
Dayton
back
in
his
box
seat
recuperating
from
recent
surgery. The
first
batter
up
for
the
Senators
was
Dave
Osmek
(R-Mound)
who
stared
furiously
at
the
Gridlockers
relief
pitcher,
a
sneaky
lefty
named
Matt
Consul.
Osmek's
long
standing
irritation
with
Consul
caused
him
to
swing
wildly
at
a
couple
of
curveballs
before
finally
smashing
a
low
sinkerball
straight
at
the
pitcher’s
head
Consul
ducked
nimbly
and
snagged
the
liner.
The
next
batter
was
Paul
Anderson
(R-Plymouth)
who
hesitated
on
a
couple
of
fastballs
before
driving
a
pitch
deep
to
left,
but
Willie
Fly
caught
up
with
it
on
the
warning
track
for
a
long
out.
The
reliable
Gary
Dahms
(R-Redwood
Falls)
strode
to
the
plate
and
doubled
to
center
field
by
shepherding
a
complicated
reinsurance
healthcare
bill
through
a
partisan
Senate.
Announcer
Scott
Jensen
ruffled
some
feathers
when
he
supported
an
amendment
by
the
hard-hitting
Tony
Lourey
(DFL-Kerrick),
ensuring
an
option
for
all
Minnesotans
in
all
87
counties.
Scott
Dibble
(DFL-Minneapolis)
was
up
next.
He
transported
a
slow
curve
to
second
baseman
Righty
Rude
for
the
third
out.
Dibble
was
heard
protesting
to
the
first
base
coach
that
the
speed
limit
should
be
restricted
to
45
mph.
Scott
Jensen
announced
that
the
game
was
more
than
half
over,
and
thanked
Torrey
Westrom
(R-Elbow
Lake)
for
his
work
on
a
Border-to-Border
Broadband
Grant
Program
-
a
big
deal
for
greater
Minnesota.
The
Gridlockers
led
7
to
4,
and
the
sun
was
past
its
zenith.
Glad
to
be
serving
as
your
State
Senator,
Senator
Scott
Jensen
Miss
the
fourth
inning?
Read
it
here.
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