Text: September 11, 2007All State SenatorsAll State RepresentativesDear Legislators:Minnesota law provides that when the legislature is assembled in a special session the governor will inform the legislature of the purposes for which they are convened. Minn. Stat. § 4.03. As you are aware, this special session has been convened to provide disaster assistance to communities, citizens and businesses in southeastern Minnesota that have been severely impacted by flooding.The relief package that will be presented to you for approval today is happening more quickly than previous government action in response to a natural disaster. Special sessions to respond to flooding in 1997 and 2002 were held about three or four months after the flooding. This one is being held a little more than three weeks after the flooding.The relief package is the result of a bipartisan agreement reached between our office and legislative leaders. Specific agreements were reached to set aside matters not agreed upon by all sides, to focus solely on agreed upon disaster relief and then adjourn sine die. I am hopeful you share my belief that a deal is a deal and the agreement to hold a one-day special session limited to the agreed upon disaster issues will be upheld.The integrity of the process and my willingness to call special sessions depends upon thewillingness of members to respect the bipartisan agreements reached as a condition forconvening the session. I trust that each of you understand the importance of such agreementsto the stability and integrity of the process. I strongly urge you to abide by the agreementsreached by your leaders.Thank you for your work in providing necessary disaster assistance to Minnesotans in need. Ilook forward to signing the bipartisan legislative disaster relief package later this evening.Sincerely,Tim PawlentyGovernor