Residual Forces

In what may be the most beautiful example of Government feeling and not thinking about ridiculous environmental policies, the lights are back on at the State Capital. But one must ask, why did they go out in the first place?

The Minnesota people’s building went dark - for a while.

Since August, the illumination that gives the state Capitol an amber glow against night skies had been shut off.

The reason? Energy savings.

“It saves a calculated $78,000 a year,” said Nicky Giancola, assistant commissioner at the Department of Administration.

But when the Pioneer Press began making phone calls about the blackout late this week, state officials changed their minds about the policy. Starting Friday night - and ever after - the Capitol again was illuminated for the bulk of the night.

“We’ve decided to turn the lights back on,” said Brian McClung, Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s director of communications. “The governor feels that the Capitol is such an iconic building and a symbol of state government and should be lit for a reasonable period of time each evening.”

And of course, State Legislators couldn’t help but fawn over their temple.

“It seems to me that when you drive down (Interstate) 94 in the evening, that is an awe-inspiring sight and having the lights on is very important to me, and, I think, to others,” said Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope.

Heck even GOP Rep. Matt Dean almost bowed with reverence.

“I think it should be lit up. It’s our state Capitol building,” said Dean, an architect by trade. “I’d like to see that decision reversed.”

And what decision is he referring to? (emphasis mine)

And Pawlenty did just that, even though it was his two-year-old order that prompted the darkness. In 2005, Pawlenty ordered all state agencies to look for 10 percent energy savings per year.

That’s right. Pawlenty ordered a 10% reduction in energy savings, (much like the mandates Government is placing on us, the citizens) and when the way to make the order work for Government affected the way the day to day operations work, they ignored the order.

Their environmental laws are good enough for us, but not them.

I hope people wake up pretty dang quick. These people making the laws in this state are hypocrites.

Oh, but don’t worry, the nanny staters and behavior police will find a way.

State Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, largely agreed with Town.

“I certainly support what they are doing to save energy,” said Anderson, chairwoman of the Senate’s Environment, Energy and Natural Resources division.

“I love the Capitol building. It’s beautiful, it’s historic,” but that doesn’t justify the extra use of electricity, she said. “If we could find a way to do it that doesn’t pollute, that would be an even better solution.”

Maybe, she suggested, the state should set up solar panels on the Capitol mall and use that energy to light the famous domed building.

“It’s not a bad idea,” she said.

Nevermind the visual pollution of a bunch of solar panels or the cost to retrofit the historic building. Oh wait, you’re not gonna pay for that.

Sorry, but that is a bad idea Sen. Anderson.

Once again our Government can’t manage to live with in the bounds it created. I hope that someday soon, they will think of the consequences before they act. Holding my breathe, I am not. I can only pray that voters figure it our before these people do too much damage to the world we call Minnesota.

Enough with this goll darn feel good legislation.