recountWith Al Franken’s recount-related legal fees expected to top $10 million, the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) gave the Democrats permission to start a new fund, Roll Call reports. On Monday, FEC Chairman Steven Walther made official what we reported last week: He sent a letter to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) giving the OK for the new fund, which that group would administer. The FEC has not approved a separate “election recount fund” that would be under Franken’s control.

Franken can’t expect to chip away at the debt through Senate back-pay, WCCO’s Pat Kessler reports. Yesterday, the Secretary of the Senate’s office told him that back pay is no longer possible and Minnesota’s next senator will get paid — at a rate of about $464 a day — starting on the day he’s sworn in. Kessler estimates that whoever wins will miss out on around $37,000. And counting.

Mary Ann Akers at The Washington Post says Democrats are ready to blame Gov. Tim Pawlenty, if Franken isn’t seated in the event that the three-judge panel hearing Norm Coleman’s election contest deems him the winner. T-Paw spokesman Brian McClung told Akers the governor wouldn’t issue an election certificate until Coleman’s expected appeal is completed. It’s not welcome news for Democrats:

“Republicans have made it clear they will hold this Senate seat hostage in order to pursue their political agenda — at the hefty expense of Minnesota having full representation in Congress,” says DSCC spokesman Eric Schultz. “Governor Pawlenty has said that Minnesota is suffering from not having two senators. Governor Pawlenty ought to make clear that if former Senator Coleman chooses to appeal the outcome of the contest in the state Supreme Court that this is the end of the road — and that, consistent with the law, he will certify Al Franken the winner following that state court appeal.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell predicted Minnesota won’t have a second seated senator for months, stating that Republicans will use a Bush v. Gore-style defense in state and possibly federal court to appeal on Coleman’s behalf. A key actor in prolonging the contested seat, McConnell said “it’s a shame” Minnesota only has one senator, Democrat Amy Klobuchar, on the job.

Sharing the “shame,” is Pawlenty, who told the Pioneer Press’ Rachel Stassen-Berger today that having only one senator is “frustrating.” He said, “Any time a state is lacking a member of Congress, it puts you at a disadvantage … If I could appoint a temporary senator, I would, but Minnesota law, unfortunately, doesn’t allow for that… The delay is frustrating, but it’s important the process run its course and we have a comprehensive, fair, just result, and it’s going to take a little more time to get that.” He confirmed McClung’s words: He won’t sign an election certificate until “the law requires me to do so.”