Posted: 02/03/10 20:13
by Dave Mindeman
Hey, wait a minute. Time out. Throw out the challenge flag. We need to look at the tape.
Governor Pawlenty has absolutely done it again.
Really, if you can't figure out a way to pay for education.... If local government aid is not acceptable.... If health and human services are just out of control spending behemoths..... then why in the world is the Governor bending over backwards to come up with ways to fund the Vikings stadium?
Really. Somebody? Come on?
It seem like only yesterday that I heard Pawlenty say that he would not consider gambling for a new revenue source. Am I wrong here? Did I miss something?
He won't consider new revenue for education. Nothing to help GAMC. Nothing for hospitals, the uninsured, the unemployed. But the Vikings? Oh hell, let's get creative!
"The Vikings are important," he said. "We've got to solve the problem. They're not going to stay in the Metrodome. Pawlenty did not completely sketch out how such a package would work, but laid out a possible path.
The Vikings are important? I am simply incredulous.
I want somebody to compare what Pawlenty is saying to the Vikings with what is happening in the real world. Please examine what is happening at District 196 schools, right now.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district could lose nearly 150 full-time jobs, including 113 teacher positions, to trim more than $15 million from next year's budget.
Maybe they can become ushers at the new stadium?????
The recommended scenario predicts that the Minnesota Department of Education will not repay schools for $1.8 billion in payments delayed in July and that the state will not come up with $500 million, the amount of one-time federal stimulus money from 2009.
It is a wise move to never expect anything from the so-called "budget shift". The money is not there and Pawlenty will veto any new revenue.
Except if you are the Vikings. Then maybe we can come up with a wonderfully creative method of funding a sports team -- for recreation-- to help a billionaire and his millionaire players stay in Minnesota.
Am I the only one who thinks this is nuts?
