No budget deadline worries?
Here's today's opinion column on the budget impasse. To me, it just comes off wrong for some reason. Is the impasse hyper-partisanship on the part of Senate DFLers, or is it just believing in core values? If Pawlenty is allowed to keep to his "no new taxes" pledge without being hyper partisan, why can't other groups?
Here's what I would like the senate to do to prove their core-value bona fides: point out to the governor that the richest Minnesotans pay less in taxes than the middle class. Ask Pawlenty if he thinks that is fair. No pontificating, just yes or no. If yes, then, well, that's it. If no, then ask him what he plans on doing about it.
It's pretty common knowledge that the richest people have it easier than the middle class. I don't understand why nobody has yet asked Pawlenty point-blank if he thinks this is fair.
posted by MN Politics Guru @ 12:07
3 Comments:
My guess: if a reporter asked Pawlenty about taxes on the rich, he'd offer up some supply-side drivel about producing jobs, and talk about MN as a top 10 high tax state.
just curious about that, though: where does the top bracket state income tax % fit on a national scale?
"It's June 5. The statesmen in the Senate have 25 days to stifle the scorched-earth partisans in their midst and negotiate in good faith with the governor. Pawlenty has 25 days to become a statesman in his own right, and do what's right for Minnesota: Increase school funding without depriving the poor of health insurance, child care or housing support -- and without shutting down any part of government."
--Lori Sturdevant
Is it just me, or is "increas[ing] school funding without depriving the poor of health insurance, child care or housing support" precisely the position of the "scorched-earth partisan" DFLers she just told the Senate leadership to "stifle" in her prior sentence? And didn't she write a column a month or so ago criticizing some "moderate" House DFLers for voting for the Sviggum's budget ceiling?
I used to have more respect for Sturdevant as being somewhat perceptive and consistent. Now it appears she's approaching the banality of the typical Reasonable Liberal Columnist: "If Democrats vote with the GOP, they're sellouts with no principles. If they stick to principles, they're irresponsible demagogues." There always has to be *some* criticism of their own party. That makes you Reasonable, after all. If you're a liberal columnist, that is. If you're a conservative columnist, no rules will apply to anything you write, ever.
Here's the part that drives me nuts: the Legislature and the Governor have been hanging around the corner of Rice Street and University Avenue for several months now. While some things are done, a lot more needs to get done.
Both sides share equal amounts of blame. Personally, I would favor an approach similar to the College of Cardinals and lock 'em in the Capitol until its done. Shove pizzas under the door. Puff of white smoke when it is finished. Stuff like that.
If the state partially shuts down, it is *everyone's* fault: Governor, House, Senate, Democrats, Republicans, Independent. It's time to introduce a new concept at the Minnesota State Capitol: leadership.
As "Larry the Cable Guy" says, "Get 'er done."
Post a Comment
<< Home