Residual Forces

The Strib allows John Gunyou to complain that we need more non-partisan legislators. He thinks that the brave souls who left their caucusses and attempoted to increase spending deals were the real kind of people we need.

With his caucus still drinking the no-tax Kool-Aid, Republican Ron Erhardt sponsored an amendment to honestly fund our state’s critical transportation needs. It passed with the help of fellow Republicans Jim Abeler, Ray Cox, Pat Garofalo, Neil Peterson, Char Samuelson and Kathy Tingelstad. Unfortunately, Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the bipartisan bill, without offering any real alternative.

This was the gas tax.

On the other side of the aisle, freshman Democrats Denise Dittrich, Melissa Hortman and Maria Ruud defied their caucus to cast the deciding votes enacting the original K-12 education bill, which allowed school districts more local funding flexibility.

This allows local districts to tax the living heck out of people. There is no longer a reasonable control or limit on how much schools can grab away from you.

Despite being snubbed by his caucus, moderate Republican Ron Abrams stepped in and closed the deal at the end of the session when Tax Committee Chair Phil Krinkie went home in a partisan snit.

Snip, that’s called principles. When you think some one betrays your beliefs to an extent that you can no longer trust them quitting is a viable option. Especially when it sends a message pointing out the other party’s diversions from sanity.

Once again, Republican Barb Sykora and Democrats LeRoy Stumpf and Steve Kelley rose above partisan interests to steer their education committees toward real solutions.

What Gunyou is saying is they increased funding. Money Money Money! Money! Money ! Yeah, Money!

th both caucuses struggling, Democrats like Ron Latz, Ann Lenczewski and Steve Simon joined with Republicans like Dan Dorman and Dennis Ozment and Independent Sheila Kiscaden to organize tripartisan rump caucuses that pressured their leadership to compromise.

I love it when media people use the word tripartisan when ONE independant is involved. By their standards every single one of us could be our own group, and then we’d have multipartisan talks. But if the Governor acted alone and was a cowboy, he’d be acting unipartisan.

During challenging times, we need leaders willing to put the good of our state ahead of partisan loyalty. Real leaders selflessly seek common ground, they don’t drive partisan wedges that lead to gridlock.
There is a better way.

Good of our State according to him= more spending, more revenue, and did I mention more spending?

And we is it that the only Republican or Right of Center voices that the Strib publishes, the ones attacking their Right. Why is it that they never publish anything from people that think the Left of Center politicians were the problem? Dumb question, I know.

Well, Mr. Gunyou, Congrats! You’ve taken off your non-partisan hat and revealed you true political goals. More spending and more taxes. That is what those people you named did, increases spending and revenue. You claim they are thinking long term, not falling to their short term minded caucuses demands, but you are the one thinkng short term. Unless we can get State Government on a diet and used to limied growth, we’re going to face $40 billion dollar budget talks next round. Every one on the Left, with an axe to grind loves to complain about the economy and any uptick in unemployment, but they think that some how, raising taxes on businesses and uping the regulations that they have to meet will increase employment and wages. They really think that a business that has to pay more and do more restrictive things will just up and hire people. Fools.

Well, Strib and Gunyou, as usual, you demand more from government. You think that the only way any one can be nonpartisan or fair in government is if they are willing to bow down a t the altar of more more more spending. But the one thing that I don’t think was ever even given a chance to be heard on the pages of the Strib or in the halls of the Legislature, was no more spending increases. You are the ones refusing to hear the other side’s idea. You are the one’s demanding your way. I know Pawlenty is every one’s fall guy, but he was trying to balance too many spinning plates, they eventually were all going to crash to the floor.

To finish up, here’s his big question:

So if we have principled, committed people representing us in the Legislature, why did our government shut down for the first time in history?

I’ll answer, because the people of Minnesota cannot pay for 12% Governmental spending increases every year. That is an unsustainable level, and would destroy the economy and drive businesses from our state. It would raise unemployment, and people would choose to move out of the state rather than pay their ballooning school levied property taxes with what is left over from their ever increasing payroll taxes.

Come on John, think.