Political notebook: A Capitol question: Will GOP tone it down?

St. Paul - Rep. Steve Drazkowski is a firebrand for his strong right-wing speeches in the Minnesota House, mostly encouraging government to get out of people’s lives.
While not personal, the Mazeppa, Minn., Republican’s speeches are tough and, at times, controversial.
Or at least they were. One of the spectator sports during the 2015 Minnesota legislative session will be seeing if Drazkowski and others on the conservative side of the conservative party will change with Republican control of the body.
Many observers have said in the past couple of years that Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in 2012 because they pushed an overly conservative agenda that did not sit well with Minnesotans. It is hard to find a Republican who will directly admit to that in public, but new House leaders are putting on a more conciliatory face, if not a more moderate one.
Like other legislators who change when they find themselves as leaders, Drazkowski hints that he may be different from the man who delivered the flame-filled speeches.
Drazkowski said that as chairman of the Property Tax and Local Government Finance Division, he will take on a different role. “You need to respect the committee.”
Still, some things won’t change: “No. 1, we need to stop the huge increases in spending and taxation of the last two years.”
The difference may be in how Drazkowski and others express such opinions.
However, a quieter legislator said there is a place for brash speechmakers.
“I kind of look at our caucus as a hockey team; you have different players playing different roles,” Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, said. “There are days when we need a Steve Drazkowski and there are days when we need a Paul Torkelson.”
House speaker-designate Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, is a guy whose personality is praised by members of both major parties. However, he said in a Forum News Service interview that his voting record is very similar to the more fiery Drazkowski.
Four years ago, Republicans owned the House and Senate, while votes just put Democrat Mark Dayton in the governor’s office. Republicans were bold and tough in negotiations, and Dayton blamed a three-week state government shutdown on Republican inflexibility. Republicans, of course, deny that and blame Dayton for the problems, but the GOP did lose both legislative bodies two years ago.
House Republicans make it clear this time around that they understand the need to work with the DFL-controlled Senate and Dayton, and have toned down rhetoric. At least they have until the session begins at noon Jan. 6.
Heating aid falls
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken worry that reduced federal heating assistance for poor Minnesotans will leave too many cold homes as temperatures begin to dip to traditional winter levels.
The Minnesota Democrats report that the program known as LIHEAP only has enough funding to serve 20 percent of eligible households. The two wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging the administration to increase funding.
“During cold Minnesota winters, being able to heat your home isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Klobuchar said. “No family should face the gut-wrenching choice between putting food on the table and keeping their kids warm.”
Franken added: “Last winter’s record-low temperatures reminded us just how important home heating assistance is to Minnesota families and seniors. LIHEAP eases the burden for many Minnesotans who need help to heat their homes, without forcing them to sacrifice things like food or prescription medicine.”
Minnesota could lose
Minnesota barely kept its eight U.S. House members after the 2010 census, and the state again may be on the bubble after the 2020 population count.
Polidata reports that it appears the state will lose one congressman, retaining seven seats, if current projections hold true.
While each state gets two senators, House seats are awarded based on population. Census data indicates other states are gaining population faster than Minnesota.
Polidata says that if today’s population estimates hold, Pennsylvania also would lose a seat, while Texas and North Carolina each would gain one. There are 435 U.S. representatives, a number that does not change as population increases.
Ventura award appealed
A court ruling that gave former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura $1.8 million is being appealed.
A federal jury awarded Ventura the money after he claimed that a book wrongly accused him of making disparaging remarks about the Iraq war and former President George W. Bush. The book also indicated Ventura was punched in a bar.
The incident supposedly happened at a California bar. Ventura said he was at the bar, but denied the allegations.
Taya Kyle, widow of the book’s author, appealed the St. Paul federal court verdict to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals.
The book is “American Sniper,” which was made into a movie that hit theaters this weekend. It does not contain any reference to a Ventura bar fight.