According to the House DFL Caucus, the group, which consisted of some nine lawmakers, had some 40 meetings/tours during the visit.

Local lawmakers on the trip were Rep. Sandra Masin, of Eagan, and Rep. Jeremy Kalin, of North Branch.

One Republican on the trip was Rep. Sarah Anderson, of Plymouth.

“We have heard about Santa’s request,” said MDH Director of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Kristen Ehresmann.

Media reports have department store Santas arguing that they should be allowed to be vaccinated because their duties require them to be around children.

But Ehresmann theorized that most retail store Santas are older people, and older people generally are at less risk for H1N1 flu than the young.

Because of this, there’s no pass to the front of the vaccination line for Santas.

An MDH spokesman stressed that if children are feeling sick, parents shouldn’t take them to meet Santa or anyone else, for that matter.

They should stay at home, he said.

Democrats in general have expressed a willingness to listen to the proposal, an attitude Koch won’t second guess.

“I’m going to take them at their word,” she said.

“I think it’s (the proposal) an idea out there. I don’t think it’s an extreme idea,” said Koch.

Koch said she personally likes the idea of establishing a spending cap on state government.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty many months ago proposed the creation of Lake Vermilion State Park on land currently owned by U.S. Steel — about 3,000 acres near Soudan Underground Mine State Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

But Holsten told lawmakers that talks with U.S. Steel about purchasing the land, which the company is proposing to develop, have been suspended.

“We are still hopeful we’ll be able to come to terms with United States Steel,” said Holsten.

Still, the commissioner explained that the land negotiations and an environmental review the DNR is completing on a proposed expansion to a U.S. Steel facility in the state had become wrongly merged in public perception.

Those two issues must be seen as separate, Holsten said.

But some lawmakers suggested that negotiations had played out long enough.

It’s time to fish or cut bait, said Sen. Elllen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul.

“We are still fishing,” insisted Holsten.

He dismissed Anderson’s assertion that the governor had washed his hands of the park project, saying that would be a grossly inaccurate statement.

“We need some time,” said Holsten, a former state representative from Stillwater.

Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, praised Holsten for keeping the appraised value of the U.S. Steel land a secret — currently the state can offer 12 percent above appraised value in land deals.

McNamara asked whether a third party — an environmental group, for instance — could add funding for the park land purchase.

“Sure,” said Holsten.

One lawmaker suggested that perhaps the 12 percent purchase cap could be altered.

Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, suggested that the conflict of interest the negotiations presented the DNR could be avoided by having the Department of Administration negotiate with U.S. Steel instead.

Holsten indicated that there was no conflict of interest, as different sections within the agency are dealing the issues.

Gomez did provide fans with a bundle of great catches, often climbing the outfield fences to snatch away potential home run bass. And, at times, he showed blazing speed on the bases.

But, he had a terrible feel for the strike zone and his base-running mistakes often came in key situations. Gomez could develop into a star for the Brewers but he became expendable in a crowded Minnesota outfield.

It appears that the Twins have pretty much penciled Hardy in as their shortstop for 2010 and beyond. He’s had an up-and-down career so far with the Brewers. Smith made a good move here but he still needs to address his team’s need for one or two veteran starting pitchers.

So, what happens to shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who Smith picked up in early August? Cabrera was one of the players who led Minnesota’s charge to the Central Division title. Cabrera played well in the field and at the plate and he added some attitude to the dugout. Cabrera became a free agent this week but the Twins should re-sign him and give him a shot at second base. That would put Nick Punto in a utility role, a spot he’s best suited for.

This and that
-Don’t be surprised if the voting for American League Most Valuable Players is closer than we in Minnesota think it will be.  Catcher Joe Mauer should receive the honor but he’ll be challenged by New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira.

-New York designated-hitter Hideki Matsui won the World Series MVP award. Matsui hit very well but my vote would’ve went to ace reliever Mariano Rivera, who closed out all four Yankee victories and didn’t all a run.

-Right now, a Yankees-Phillies re-match in 2010 is a good bet. How well Boston does bringing in players over the winter could put some pressure on the Yankees.

-Empty seats at TCF Bank Stadium for the Illinois game is a surprise. I thought it would take a couple of years for the “thrill of college football back on campus” to wane. University Athletic Director Joel Maturi is aware of the problem but his proposed solutions appear to be bribes.

This week’s winners and losers
Last week’s football predictions marks were 5-5 on college games and 9-4 for NFL games. I did nail both “upset specials” (Stanford over Oregon and Tampa Bay over Green Bay).

Here are this week’s picks:

College
Wisconsin 30, Michigan 20
Southern Cal 34, Stanford 20
Pittsburgh 24, Notre Dame 20
Ohio State 27, Iowa 23
Florida 30, South Carolina 20
Georgia 31, Auburn 22
Mississippi 23, Tennessee 22
Oklahoma State 30, Texas Tech 20
St. John’s 40, Carleton 10
Minnesota 31, South Dakota State 20

NFL
Pittsburgh 24, Cincinnati 20
Indianapolis 30, New England 27
New York Jets 27, Jacksonville 17
Tennessee 27, Buffalo 19
New Orleans 34, St. Louis 17
Atlanta 24, Carolina 17
Oakland 30, Kansas City 20
Miami 22, Tampa Bay 17
Arizona 34, Seattle 30
Philadelphia 24, San Diego 22
Denver 27, Washington 20
Baltimore 24, Cleveland 17
Vikings 34, Detroit 13
Upset special: Green Bay 27, Dallas 23

But Rep. Paul Gardner, DFL-Shoreview, believes the easiest ways of bringing in state revenue aren’t always the best.

“Personally my issue with gaming is the money is too easy,” said Gardner recently.

“Raising money for government should be hard,” he said.

Lawmakers should have to stand before voters and justify taxes increases, he explained.

“With gaming you allow government to grow without any accountability,” he argued.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Gardner said.

Gardner indicated he had no inkling whether gaming would be a big issue when lawmakers return to the Capitol in February.

“Who knows,” he said.

“I would say there’s a general distaste for gaming,” said Gardner.

“Members of the Minnesota House feel strongly that we need to address the important issues raised by this case,” said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm.

“The plaintiffs are arguing that the governor did not follow the law when he (Pawlenty) resorted to unallotment in this instance. We believe it is important that the court understand we agree with that argument,” said Sertich in a press release.

House attorneys will file the legal brief as soon as possible.

Pawlenty in the past has expressed satisfaction that the administration stands on solid legal ground in its unallotment.

Anyone can file a lawsuit, he has said of legal challenges to the administration.

It will focus on separation of power between the branches of government.

Six to eight people — “including me,” he said — looked for the better part of two days for the deer but the blood trail dried up, said Pawlenty, who left the opener on Saturday for a political engagement in Iowa.

It’s not uncommon, explained Pawlenty, to “graze” a deer hunting and that’s what happened.

The governor said he took a 175 yard to 200 yard shot at the buck.

“I do it from time to time,” Pawlenty said of practicing shooting.

A brother had sighted in the scope on the rifle he used deer hunting, he said.

The lawmakers are: Representatives Bruce Anderson, Buffalo Township, Mark Buesgens, of Jordan, Tom Hackbarth, of Cedar, Mary Liz Holberg, of Lakeville, Tim Sanders, of Blaine, and Peggy Scott, of Andover.

Emmer also picked up an endorsement from Sen. Amy Koch, of Buffalo.

Serving as campaign manager is Zach Rodvold, who comes from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office where he served as state director.

Former finance director for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman’s successful reelection campaign Lauren Beecham will serve in that capacity for Clark.

Other campaign staff includes DFL veterans Nicole Wittig-Geske, Stacey Springer — the latter a former St. Cloud University student activist — and Emily Lawrence who previously worked for 4th District Congresswoman Betty McCollum.