Posted: 02/12/08 02:39
by Dave Mindeman
The Minnesota Legislature has an ambitious agenda for the new session. The battle lines are being drawn on Transportation and the bonding bill. Much of what is being proposed is familiar territory that was "veto"-ized during the last session. Can we expect a different result?
That is not certain. The Republican rhetoric is already digging into the "metaphor" bag. Brian McClung thinks "jumper cables" can spark the debate...and of course, Marty Seifert can't be outdone, exhorting the Democrats to "give up tax increases for Lent."
But even the Republicans must feel the pressure to do something. By the time the next budget cycle comes before the legislature, we could be facing another huge deficit....the projected estimate of $373 million in the red may feel like a relief before this is done. The economy needs a boost in real investment and the transportation back log is moving into crisis mode.
The DFL majority needs to pressure the Governor into action, but it also needs to walk a fine "veto" line. Pawlenty has a loud megaphone and he has never hesitataed to use it.
It is important that the legislature takes a stand on making transportation dollars come from dedicated revenue sources. We can add some bonding dollars but not on the magnitude of the Governor's proposal. Borrowing as the only method of funding our roads and bridges will leave us in worse shape going forward.
While the Governor uses his hard line on taxes to furthur his "upwardly mobile" political career, he could leave a decimated and mediocre state of Minnesota behind...... and a generational mess in his wake.
Passing legislation is a fine art. It is important that the House and Senate leadership show, all of us, that they learned some things from last year's session.
This is an election year and results matter.
