Editorial for May 20
Minnesotans deserve betterAs of this writing, the Minnesota Legislature session has ended and no special session has been set.
If there was ever a time, Minnesotans, to chew out your state senators, state representatives and governor, this is it.
Minnesotans deserve better than a DFL-controlled House and Senate jamming a tax bill through the Legislature late Monday and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who threatens to make cuts on his own, on budget and the DFL tax bill.
In a time when the state needed leaders with vision and the ability to have spirited, healthy debate on issues which will shape our state for years to come, we got partisan bickering, stubbornness and, it seems, no one with an ability or voice strong enough to ask the Legislature to think beyond the next year or two.
We have no real budget resolution and nothing to lead us forward into 2011, 2012 and beyond.
Here's what we do have:
The House and Senate passed a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The House and Senate passed a bill that creates a primary law for seat belt use. Now, if you drive without your seat belt, law enforcement can stop you.
The Legislature passed a bill for more than $200 million in funding for parks, clean water, arts and the outdoors in general.
Those are not bad issues to spend time on, but those bills and others should not be the only result from this year's session.
By waiting until the last moments to pass a tax bill and getting no resolution on a budget, the Legislature has left the state in a vulnerable position. The Legislature has left the control over the budget and its related issues in the hands of one person: Pawlenty.
Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, that is not a healthy solution.
The stakes are too high and the risks too big and the burden too great to leave in the hands of one person.
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igorvitch
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07-01-09 11:32 PM
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ruralroute, what do you actually know about Senator Klobuchar's record in Congress? Have you done one iota of actual research on that subject or are you just another hip shooter like our "friend" rangeral, who thinks he knows everything, which is a certain sign that someone knows little at all.
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igorvitch
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07-01-09 11:30 PM
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You're still at it, Rangeral. Meaningless name calling and slogans; right out of the Rush Limbaugh play booklet on how to divide Americans and misrepresent almost any issue about which you decide to rant. The Democrats did send a bill filled with compromises to Tim Pawlenty, but it didn't fit his resume for running for President. When you take a good look at this state's schools, roads, BRIDGES, and other infratructure, you'll soon see that Minnesota is no longer a leader of anything but, perhaps, selfish tax payers' associations.
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Bradley
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05-22-09 10:30 AM
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when people from other towns are paying most of certians towns and cities budget. Wadena's budget is 10.4 million 5.4 is lga. The rest of mn shouldn't be paying the majority of another towns budget. Albert Lea is the same way. Give me a break T paw is completely right on this. I live in st. cloud and he does a radio show every fri. up here. And after listening to his reasoning on things he's right on the mark with thing.
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ruralroute
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05-21-09 8:04 PM
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Rangeral-I agree with you on kids not being buckled in. That is stupidity. I hate smoking and support a smoking ban in public places -- but when it is you smoking in your own home, isn't that an invasion of privacy? I just have issue with the seat-belt law being a "primary" offense. The last thing we need is cops having another reason to pull a person over. Now ,if you are driving down the road, and the cop thinks you aren't wearing your seat belt (and you are) -- doesn't that affect individual rights? I am not disagreeing with you on the common sense of those issues, but rather if it should be legislated.
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rangeral
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05-21-09 6:31 PM
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RR - there are those that will buckle up after being fined enough times; there are also those who will die after drinking and driving and not buckling up; nothing pains me more than to see some idiot with small kids in the car driving down the road smoking and seeing the kids not buckled in - apparetnly common sense is not being used. Take a trip to pulmonary rehab and ask the clients what they think about smoking now.
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ruralroute
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05-21-09 5:05 PM
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Rangeral, apparently you believe it's the government's job to protect us from ourselves...you sound like a hard-line Democrat. What about smoking at home? Do you want the government to come in, issue a citation and tell you that you can't smoke in the privacy of your own home because it is unhealthy? People die from smoking-related deaths everyday, which drive up health care costs, insurance premiums, etc. I am not a smoker, by the way, and I have the brains to wear my seat belt, law or not. These are not "thoughtless" freedoms, but rather what comes from living in a free society. And that means there are consequences for not using common sense. And do you think a law ensures that everyone wears their seat belt? Of course not.
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hartman75
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05-21-09 2:16 PM
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Pawlenty and the legislature (comprised of both Republicans and Democrats) don't want to make the tough decisions. They are going to put a bandaid on the problem and wait for someone else to solve the problem. Solution 1) Raise taxes (except on those who can afford it). How else can legislators raise enough money to get re-elected. Solution 2) Cut funding on programs for the low income.(why not, they don't have a voice) We are rapidly becoming a 2 class society; those who have it (and don't want to share) and those who need it (but can't afford it). So much for trickle down economics. To simply blame the Democrats lacks common sense. Everyone needs to make concessions if anything is going to get done but don't hold your breath (except maybe edmund).
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rangeral
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05-21-09 12:54 PM
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RR - file a security bond to cover any health care costs that you may incur as your "right" to drive without a seatbelt and also include any others in your vehicle, especially minors who your may thoughtlessly expose to your idea of personal freedom. Also contact your auto insurer and tell them in writing that you will not be wearing a seatbelt. Thses actions would ensure your ultimate "right" to do stupid things.
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ruralroute
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05-21-09 11:21 AM
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merioncooper/rangeral- It is my personal responsibility to wear a seat belt. It's called common sense. Why should the government have to tell me to do so? Our govt. feels the need to regulate common sense and it is a total waste of time and money. It's like the McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit pushed by Ralph Nader...isn't it common sense that coffee being sold is going to be hot? It's a slippery slope...if you are a smoker, do you want the govt. to be able to come into your private home, give you a citation and tell you not to smoke because it's bad for your health? Where does it stop? And Rangeral, you sound like you receive your talking points straight from Marty Seifert's office.
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rangeral
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05-20-09 11:42 PM
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merioncooper - you seemed to have left out the DFL band of idiots, but you are right on with rr.
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merioncooper
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05-20-09 4:38 PM
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ruralroute, I'll remember that it's your choice when they find your mangled body in a ditch after you've been ejected: Don't expect taxpayers or my insurance premiums to cover your medical costs. On the budget, one person now has the authority to take action directly affecting the poor, elderly, disabled, sick and pretty much anyone else who's a strain on society. Change his title from Governor to Der Fuhrer.
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EdmundFitzgerald
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05-20-09 11:16 AM
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The less government does, the better. This year’s legislative outcome was almost perfect for taxpayers. We SHOULD pay proportionately more taxes locally – we have more control at that level over how it’s spent.
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ruralroute
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05-20-09 11:01 AM
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Some observations...first of all, the seat-belt law passage is unconstitutional. The govt. has NO RIGHT under the Constitution to pull me over because I am not wearing a seat belt. That is a clear invasion of privacy...secondly, the Dems have done nothing since they've controlled the house and senate but whine and put out idiotic proposals, and Gov. TPaw's no-tax pledge has not worked. One last thing Sen. Klobuchar has done NOTHING during her term other than follow Harry Reid's instructions. She needs to be voted out in 2012!
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rangeral
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05-20-09 9:41 AM
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DFL means tax and spend. The spending in the state is out of control, the unions get whatever they want for pay and benefit increases and the pensions have been out of control for years. We pay millions to support the illegals in this state and our lone senator doesn't even acknowledge there is a problem. She voted millions for abortions out of the country but ignores the infrastructure problems in our own state. Medical marijauana is a smoke screen for more drug use and the problems that go with it. Enlightened legislation, my ass! Time to wake, Minnesota!
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rona45
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05-20-09 8:47 AM
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When the legislature can sit on its hands and avoid any meaningful business it is time they are replaced. Just remember this during the next election.
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Canntt
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05-20-09 7:56 AM
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i completely agree, this is an embarrassment, they did NOTHING this year of substance, Pawlenty says he will not raise taxes, no HE wont, all he will do is cut local city and county aid, so that the cities and counties will have no choice but to raise their leveys, which will then, do what??? Raise our taxes. Hey legislature, thanks for nothing!!
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