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Senators
versus
Gridlockers
8th
Inning
Score
Senators
12
Gridlockers
11
NINTH
INNING
It
all
boils
down
to
the
ninth-inning.
The
work
of
the
preceding
many
months
set
the
stage
for
the
critical
final
showdown.
As
the
session
moved
into
the
last
two
weeks,
the
'freshman
twelve'
senators
on
the
Republican
side
of
the
aisle
composed
a
short
video exhorting
the
governor
and
legislative
leaders
to
stop
drawing
lines
in
the
sand
but
instead
focus
on
getting
the
work
done
so
extra
innings
could
be
avoided.
The
Senators
are
in
a
must-win
situation.
Time
is
of
the
essence
and
fans
are
counting
on
them
to
pull
out
a
win.
But
with
everything
on
the
line,
Gridlockers
switched
up
their
game
plan,
forcing
the
Senators
into
a
long-winded
“hurry
up
and
wait”
marathon.
The
Gridlockers
asserted
themselves
with
renewed
vigor.
They
delayed,
quibbled,
gossiped,
and
schemed.
Meanwhile, the
Senators
were
slow-footed
on
defense
and
made
miscues
that
could
have
been
avoided.
Multiple
pitchers
threw
curveballs
when
fastballs
would
have
been
more
effective.
Fielders
missed
cut
off
throws
and
the
Gridlockers
quickly
scored
a
pair
of
runs.
The
Capitol
(Stadium)
was
in
a
state
of
disarray
as
labor
union
protestors,
faith
group
demonstrators,
and
immigration
advocates
swarmed
throughout
the
concourses.
Sit-ins
were
staged
in
the
governor's
office
and
committee
meetings
were
interrupted
with
impromptu
parades
of
activists.
Heated
debates
about
job
protection
for
teachers,
drivers’
licenses
for
undocumented
immigrants,
and
tax
cuts
for
seniors
dominated
the
scene.
Professional
demonstrators
showed
up
for
work
not
even
knowing
what
issue
they
would
be
involved
with
that
day.
Throngs
of
people
roamed
the
Capitol
halls
in
the
wee
hours
of
the
morning
while passionate
legislators
quarreled.
Meanwhile,
Governor
Dayton
was
not
seen
in
public
for
days.
He
vetoed
every
one
of
the
budget
bills
sent
to
him.
Months
and
months
of
hard
work
and
relationship-building
unraveled
quickly.
Leader
Gazelka
(R-Nisswa)
was
called
to
the
mound
to
calm
the
waters.
He
struck
out
Seamy
Plod
to
retire
the
side,
but
the
Gridlockers
had
taken
the
lead
13
to
12.
The
fans
were
restless...and
the
Senators
were
getting
desperate.
The
bottom
of
the
ninth
brought
Eric
Pratt
(R-Prior
Lake)
to
the
plate.
With
two
outs,
the
Senators
were
in
a
tough
position.
Pratt
presented
the
Real
ID
bill
for
the
second
time,
and
this
time
his
efforts
met
with
great
success.
With
bipartisan
cheers,
he
slammed
a
curveball
into
the
left
field
second
deck
to
tie
the
score
at
13
apiece,
hopefully
a
lucky
number
for
the
Senators.
The
next
batter
hit
a
weak
pop
up
to
the
third
baseman,
and
a
special
session
became
a
reality.
An
extra
inning
would
start
at
12:
01
am.
How
long
it
would
last
was
anybody’s
guess.
9th
Inning
Score
Senators
13
Gridlockers
13
Glad
to
be
doing
the
play-by-play,
Senator
Scott
Jensen
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