Marcus Bachmann at Minnesota's observation of the National Day of Prayer. Photo: Andy Birkey

About 100 people turned out Thursday for Minnesota’s National Day of Prayer event at the state Capitol, and many politicians were there to take part. Rep. Michele Bachmann sent a message by way of her husband, Marcus; a Secretary of State candidate said the military helps bring people to Christ; and an absent Gov. Tim Pawlenty gave his seal of approval for the event by way of an official proclamation.

Striking a recurring theme at the event, Rep. Dan Severson, the GOP-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, told the crowd that Minnesota had to move back to biblical principles.

“We live in a blessed land that was formed on a Constitution, that was based on biblical principles and principles of a belief in God and a belief that the truth will set men free,” he said.

He prayed for the nation’s men and women serving in the armed forces and spoke about the important work they do.

“And for America, that importance is that every man woman and child would have the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their personal savior,” he said. “So we want to lift up these men and women who are committed to this country.”

Rep. Dan Severson

Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau read a proclamation from Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who did not attend the event as he has in previous years.

“Now therefore, I, Tim Palwenty, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 6, 2010, as day of prayer in the State of Minnesota and humbly encourage citizens of faith to turn to God as their understanding and beliefs direct, that we may open our hearts in thanksgiving for the blessings we received and to seek strength, wisdom, and encouragement to build a better Minnesota for all.”

Marcus Bachmann read a letter from Rep. Bachmann, but before he did, he gave his own remarks.

“Today is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice! And let us be reminded that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

He then read a letter from his wife, whom he called his “beloved.”

“Our country has a rich Christian history and was founded upon the principle of biblical freedom. What a gift it is to know that God has blessed us with the right to pray, teach and practice our beliefs in this great country,” she wrote.

“May we continue to stand boldly against tyranny,” she said. “We will work to restore our land to its foundations of religious freedom. We must never forget that these rights are given by God and that they are hated by unfaithful men.”

Pastor Peggy Johnson then conducted a fiery “laying on of hands” for Marcus Bachmann.

“He is Lord over Minnesota,” she said. “He is Lord over this nation. He is Lord! And so we declare it today,” she shouted as the crowd swayed, eyes closed and arms out-stretched. “Lord, we pray a protection around [members of Congress]. And Lord we pray for divine protection around these leaders. We ask you would give them divine revelation from your throne room.”

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

Many Democratic members of the legislature turned out to greet the crowd as well. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher declined to pray, instead asking all members of the legislature present to stand and be recognized. Sen. Terri Bonoff took to the mic to offer a Jewish prayer, in what would be the only non-evangelical Christian prayer of the day. (In past years, the event hasn’t included any non-evangelical speakers.)

“I’m Jewish so I offered to do a Hebrew prayer so that we could all be included,” she told the crowd.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has attended the event for years. He used the opportunity to remember Sgt. Joe Bergeron, a Maplewood police officer who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.

“Prayer can bring us comfort, especially in times of loss,” he said. “The funeral this morning for Sgt. Bergeron’s family — of the meaning and the words and the prayers that were given, I was most touched by his nephew. His nephew said that Joe didn’t become a hero in his death; he was a hero by how he lived his life.”

“And my prayer today,” Ritchie added, “is that we be heroes in our lives.”

This year’s prayer day follows an April ruling by a federal judge in Wisconsin deeming the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. The Minnesota event’s coordinator, Sharon Auldrich, told the Minnesota Independent last month that the state prayer day “draw[s] a line in the sand.”

“Those who say they believe in God and say they have biblical values will have to step forward and prove it.”

Gov. Pawlenty at the National Day of Prayer event in 2008. Photo: Governor's Office

Despite a ruling last week by a federal judge in Wisconsin striking down the National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional, Minnesota’s commemoration of the annual event — almost exclusively an evangelical affair — will go on this year. It remains to be seen whether Gov. Tim Pawlenty will again sign a proclamation for the day in Minnesota.

On Thursday U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that the National Day of Prayer, enacted by Congress in 1952 at the urging of evangelist Billy Graham and strengthened by President Reagan in 1988, violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

The day “serves no purpose but to encourage a religious exercise, making it difficult for a reasonable observer to see the statute as anything other than a religious endorsement,” Crabb wrote. She added that prayer is a very important part of people’s lives but that “recognizing the importance of prayer to many people does not mean that the government may enact a statute in support of it, any more than the government may encourage citizens to fast during the month of Ramadan, attend a synagogue, purify themselves in a sweat lodge or practice rune magic.”

Most Minnesota governors have endorsed the day each year with a proclamation — with the exception of Gov. Jesse Ventura, who refused to sign one. “I believe in the separation of church and state,” he said at the time. “We all have our own religious beliefs. There are people out there who are atheists, who don’t believe at all… They are all citizens of Minnesota and I have to respect that.”

But Pawlenty, an evangelical Christian, has been loyal to the exclusively evangelical event, and has appeared at several day of prayer events during his term in office, as has Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, also an evangelical.

Pawlenty’s office did not return a request for comment on how the court ruling might affect his support for this year’s event.

In recent years, only evangelicals were invited to speak at the event, which is part of Shirley Dobson’s — and Focus on the Family’s — plan for the nationwide events. In fact, Sharon Auldrich, Minnesota coordinator for the National Day of Prayer, was hand-picked by Dobson.

Auldrich said that this year’s event at the Capitol on May 6 will only be “strengthened” by the court decision.

“This ruling will continue the process of refining and drawing out those who believe faith in God is vital and will encourage them to stand strong on Biblical principals,” she said. “We are commanded to pray for our country and those in authority.”

She added, “God uses for good what the enemy has planned to use to destroy.”

She said the court decision will be test for Christians, including President Obama. “What this does is draw a line in the sand, and those who say they believe in God and say they have biblical values will have to step forward and prove it,” said Auldrich. “The request for President Obama to appeal [the decision] is going to be a very interesting test for him.”

In the past, the line-up of speakers for the event at the Capitol has been exclusively evangelical. In 2008, for instance, all eleven speakers were evangelical Christians — hardly representative of a state where one in 5 residents is evangelical Christian.

This year’s event will take an even different flavor when the National Day of Prayer observance at the Capitol teams up with the Minnesota Family Council for a prayer in the Capitol Rotunda following the event on the Capitol lawn. MFC bills its rally against rights for same-sex couples as “a call for believers throughout the state to join together in a united voice against the assault on God’s design for marriage.”

Dan McElroy, Larry Pogemiller

State Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller’s desire for an early end to Dan McElroy’s tenure as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) got a fresh airing last week by Minnesota Public Radio. One thing keeping the spat civil: The pair attended high school together in the 1960s.

DFLer Pogemiller has kind words for the man he now wants out of the state’s Republican-led administration: “I like him. He’s a good guy. I just don’t think he’s an effective leader of the agency.”

The state Senate could make McElroy the third member of Pawlenty’s cabinet to be removed, following Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau (as transportation commissioner) and Cheryl Yecke (as education commissioner).

For his part, McElroy, a former Republican state legislator, refuses to engage the majority leader — beyond saying that he  ”doesn’t understand where Pogemiller’s coming from,” according to MPR.

But there’s at least one place Pogemiller comes from that McElroy knows well: DeLaSalle High School. Pogemiller (Class of ’69) was three years behind McElroy at the Catholic school near downtown Minneapolis.

Proving, it seems, that a friend in need is not necessarily a friend in DEED.

Molnau has nothing to do with what Republican Peter Kinder is up to, of course. Except that as Midwest Regional Chair of the Lieutenant Governors Association, she is supposed to promote the effectiveness of Kinder and lieutenant governors in 11 other states, including her own.

Photo: MNDOT

UPDATED Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau. Minnesota State Fair. Celebrity butter carving contest. What more do you need to know?

Well, there is more to know, believe it or not, about Molnau’s activities with the National Lieutenant Governors Association. She starts her Thursday at the fair announcing an NLGA initiative called “Your Heart Is in Your Hands.” And then — oh, just read the press release yourself …

From the office of Gov. Pawlenty:

Governor Pawlenty and Lieutenant Governor Molnau’s Public Events Schedule for Thursday, September 3

Thursday, September 3

9:30 a.m. – State Fairgrounds
Lieutenant Governor Molnau announces an initiative from the National Lieutenant Governors Association, “Your Heart is in Your Hands.”
Education Center
Health Booth
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

11:00 a.m. – State Fairgrounds
Lieutenant Governor Molnau speaks at the award ceremony for Minnesota’s “2009 Outstanding Senior Citizens of the Year.”
Leinie’s Lodge Bandshell
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

12:30 p.m. – State Fairgrounds
Lieutenant Governor Molnau participates in a celebrity butter carving contest.
Moo Demonstration Area
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

2:00 p.m. – State Fairgrounds
Lieutenant Governor Molnau participates in the Birds of Prey show.
Department of Natural Resources Building
Main Stage
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Update: Another day, another butter-carving competition.

Friday, September 4

4:30 p.m. – State Fairgrounds                     
Lieutenant Governor Molnau judges the Butter Carve-O-Rama public butter carving contest. 
Moo Demonstration Area
Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Molnau at 2008 NLGA conference. Photo: MN North Star

Carol Molnau, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor and former transportation commissioner, has been re-elected chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association’s (NLGA) Midwest Region.

From the official state press release:

“Lieutenant Governor Molnau was selected by a bi-partisan group of her peers from every region in the nation as a leader among her colleagues,” said NLGA Executive Director Julia Hurst.

“I am honored that my colleagues designated me to serve in NLGA leadership this year,” Lieutenant Governor Molnau said. “I look forward to working with them and share best practices that will benefit the constituents of Minnesota and other states.”

The state Senate stripped her of her commissionership following the I-35W bridge collapse, but Molnau envisions a political future for herself, even after Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s decision not to run for re-election.

She may run for governor or Congress in 2010 and in the meantime remains NLGA chair of all she surveys. Besides Minnesota, the Midwest region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Including Molnau, five of the Midwest’s lieutenant governors are women, more than in any other region. Nationally, there are 12 women among the 55 lieutenant governors serving U.S. states and territories, with Molnau and Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman the only Republican women.

In the only two lieutenant-governor elections this year, in New Jersey and Virginia, both Democratic Party candidates are women (and both are Jewish). In fact, the tally of female lieutenant governors is guaranteed to increase because the Republican candidate in New Jersey is also a woman.

That’s unusual in most states but wouldn’t be so in Minnesota, where the last five gubernatorial elections have involved two or more women as major-party running mates, and the last five lieutenant governors have been female.

Marlene Johnson, elected on the Democratic ticket with Rudy Perpich in 1982 and 1986, was the first woman to hold the post. After Johnson came Joanell Dyrstad (Republican, elected with Arne Carlson in 1990); Joanne Benson (Republican, also elected with Carlson, in 1994); Mae Schunk (Reform Party, later Independence Party, elected with Jesse Ventura); and Molnau (elected with Tim Pawlenty in 2002 and 2004).

Elsewhere in Minnesota headlines this morning …

FARMFEST: Carol Molnau may be mulling guv run. But the first few days after the anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse can’t be the best time for the lieutenant governor (and decommissioned transportation commissioner) to announce. [Star Tribune]

FARMFEST: Republicans quash gubernatorial straw poll. Chronic election observer Jimmy Carter wouldn’t approve, but party leaders didn’t want an unsanctioned survey to usurp their official straw poll in October. [Polinaut]

BEMIDJI: Congressman declares, “This is Recovery City.” Okay, U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, but then what’s Center City, home of Hazelden? [Bemidji Pioneer]

ST. CLOUD: Ex-mayor could become ex-lawyer. The Minnesota Supreme Court might suspend John Ellenbecker for losing a client’s audio cassettes, including a mix tape with that one Flock of Seagulls song. [St. Cloud Times]

DULUTH: Cops can’t take tix for golf tourney. The city attorney says accepting free passes as payment for off-duty security service at next week’s PGA Championship in Chaska isn’t kosher — though a plane-ticket gift for a city councilor to visit a Japanese sister-city was fine. [Duluth News-Tribune]

TWIN CITIES: Feds’ suit says drycleaner fired woman for getting pregnant. “Employers cannot restrict women — pregnant or otherwise — from their facilities in anything but the most unique of circumstances,” said an official. Most unique? Does that apply when women are only a little bit pregnant? [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

“We don’t have term limits in Minnesota, but we do have good judgment and common sense,” Pawlenty said. “Time marches on and now it’s time to give someone else a chance.”

The governor, however, refused to be drawn into speculation that the move is an indication that he harbors presidential ambitions. “I don’t have any plans beyond serving out my term,” Pawlenty insisted. “I’m not ruling anything in or out.”

In recent weeks, Pawlenty has drawn plaudits from conservative quarters for his hard-line stance on fixing the state’s budget problems without raising taxes. Americans for Tax Reform, arguably the country’s most stridently anti-tax advocacy group, named him a “Hero of the Taxpayer.” An op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal praised his budget maneuvers as a potential blueprint for how the national GOP could get its groove back.

At today’s press conference, Pawlenty brandished his fiscal conservative bona fides on several occasions. “The fact that we’ve brought more competition to Minnesota by keeping a lid on taxes and spending is really important,” he said when asked about his proudest achievements in office.

But Pawlenty continued to plead ignorance about any national political plans. When asked at the press conference if he intended to start a political-action committee, he professed uncertainty about the logistics of setting up such an organization.

The governor’s decision not to attempt a three-peat is also viewed by many political observers as bad news for Al Franken. The reason: It may suggest that Pawlenty will be emboldened to hold off signing an election certificate even if Franken prevails in the U.S. Senate contest at the Minnesota Supreme Court, as is widely anticipated. Such a maneuver would curry favor with the party’s base and the GOP leadership in the nation’s capital, but it would likely doom any statewide political ambitions in Minnesota.

Pawlenty’s remarks on this matter in the past have been ambiguous. Today he stated that he would adhere to the directives of the courts. “I think you guys have really over-baked that issue,” he said. “You’re really spinning out of control on that.”

In cold political terms, the decision not to run for re-election was probably not particularly difficult. Although polling released since the end of the legislative session has indicated that Pawlenty is still relatively popular, he would have faced an extremely difficult battle. He failed to garner 50 percent of the vote in his first two runs for the top office and Democrats have made significant electoral gains in the last two election cycles. In addition, it’s uncertain how Pawlenty’s budgetary hardball will play with Minnesota voters. Defeat at the ballot box in 2010 would surely doom any future national ambitions.

But the governor insisted that fear of losing played no part in his decision. “I absolutely could have won and I think would have won a third term,” he said.

Pawlenty’s decision not to seek re-election likely means there will be a crowded field of contenders for the GOP crown in next year’s gubernatorial contest. Among the names in the ether: former Pawlenty chief of staff Charlie Weaver, former House Speaker Steve Sviggum, House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, former State Auditor Patricia Anderson, state Sens. David Hann and Julie Rosen, state Reps. Paul Kohls and Laura Brod, former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad and GOP National Committeeman Brian Sullivan.

One potential candidate unlikely to run: Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau.
“Someone once told me never say never,” Molnau said at the press conference, “but I think it’s probably highly unlikely that I would be looking at a governorship.”

Perhaps the closest Pawlenty came to admitting national political ambitions during the press conference was when he talked about helping to rebuild the Republican Party after significant electoral setbacks during the last four years. “It’s got to be a party that can accommodate both Colin Powell and Rush Limbaugh if we’re going to be successful,” he said, taking a not-so-subtle swipe at former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Pawlenty also showcased the aw-shucks political skills that have made him a player in national politics. Near the close of the press conference, he insisted that his ideal job has nothing to do with politics.

“My dream job is to be an NHL defenseman, but at 48 and having no skill it’s tough,” he laughed.

DFL blogger Dusty Trice began digging into Pawlenty’s term-limit past last week with a succession of posts that revealed increasingly ironic nuggets of legislative history. After the term-limits bill Pawlenty and Molnau co-authored in 1993 wasn’t successful, T-Paw authored a new bill two years later, pushing the idea to the point of making the term limits retroactive.

The conservative NationalReview.com blogs that 1995 was a long time ago: “A lot can change in 14 years, including a guy’s mind.”

But for the Tim Pawlenty and Carol Molnau of today — who stuck together even as the I-35W bridge collapse cost Molnau her moonlighting gig as commissioner of transportation — their long-buried legislative waste could prove radioactive.

Pawlenty had intended a 2002 run for U.S. Senate (where limiting terms is far beyond the reach of any state legislator). But heavy hands in the White House prodded Pawlenty into the governor’s race so that St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, a Republican convert, could challenge the sitting two-term Democratic senator who had once pledged to quit after 12 years.

If Paul Wellstone were still with us, Pawlenty could ask him how tough it is to run against your own words on limited terms in office.