This week at the capitol has had its share of drama and suspense. Earlier in the week, the legislature overrode Pawlenty's veto of the transportation bill with a narrow vote. Today, the Senate voted to reject Molnau's appointment as MNDOT head (yes, she had been on the job for five years).
If this week is any indication, political moderation is not a virtue in St. Paul at the moment. The veto override passed largely because of the "six defecters", the six Republicans who voted with the Democrats. They were promptly punished by being stripped of committeeship appointments and have been slammed left and right by partisan talk show hosts and some fellow legislators. Today's Molnau vote appears to have been along party lines, with Democrats getting the public "firing" that they've been drooling after for months.
One of my favorite books is "A Man's Reach" by late Governor Elmer Andersen and Lori Sturdevant. In it, Andersen talks about how politics didn't get so personal in his day. A shared interest in moving Minnesota ahead transcended the winner-take-all mentality that we see more of today. Sure, politics weren't squeaky clean back then -- Andersen's failure to get re-elected as Governor wreaked of his opponent sharing questionable information and effectively manipulating what was a long news cycle back then -- but you have to think it was more collaborative than it has been in the past decade. Moderates were viewed as the powerful bridge between the two parties, not a weakness within partisan caucus.
The irony of this week's situation is that Tim Pawlenty, a Governor viewed as some in the state as ultra-conservative and unbecoming of a Minnesotan on spending issues, was shot down with a thud at his National Governor's Association meeting in DC. His ideas for controlling greenhouse emissions were apparently much too radical for some of his more conservative peers. A Governor who is being labeled as too conservative here at home is being labeled as too moderate on the national scene.
While this week has been one of the more partisan-charged ones St. Paul has seen in a while, we can hope for a few more moderate developments during the remainder of this session:
1. Governor Pawlenty not being deterred by the poor response to his moderation in DC. That type of approach will certainly fall on a more receptive audience at home.
2. The "six defecting" Republicans continuing to be the difference on key votes during the session, continuing to vote for their district on every issue, and not being further punished by the Republicans if they vote to the left or being bashed by the DFL if they vote with the right.
3. A debate on how to treat the looming $1 billion deficit which is not simply a call to raise taxes again (from the DFL) versus a call to cut state investment to the bone (from Republicans).
4. A bonding bill which displays comprimise from both parties.
Here's to moderation.
State Politics: Not a Week for Moderation
Ice Fishing Houses Must Be Off Soon
Although ice levels on Lake Minnetonka are in the 30-inch range, ice fishing houses must be off the lake this Saturday.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/15978687.html
Transportation Bill Passes
In what was one of the more interesting vote sequences at the Capitol, the Legislature overrode Governor Pawlenty's veto of the transportation bill yesterday.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/02/25/veto/
Democrats felt that a cash infusion was needed, in addition to the bonding which Republicans supported, to accelerate the improvement and expansion of transportation in Minnesota. Republicans felt that bonding would allow for a better investment, and felt that the taxes in the bill were regressive.
In the end, we'll have the first gas tax increase in years and a small metro-wide increase in the sales tax.
Excelsior Commissions study lakefront development proposal
All four Excelsior commissions -- Planning, Heritage Preservation, Finance, and Park and Recreation -- have studied and entertained opinions on the proposal to development the lakefront plot at the edge of the Commons.
We are interested in eyewitness accounts from anyone who attended: Were the meetings well attended? What was the tone? Was a strong case made either way?
George Will: "Fairness" in the Democratic campaign
Interesting column by George Will in today's Star Tribune discussing such issues as Obamamania and the caucus system.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/15821992.html
Shorewood to Tape Work Session Meetings
Shorewood has made the decision to tape and broadcast work sessions. See the article in the Sun for details: http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/02/12/news/ex07shor2.txt
This is the first city in the immediate area that will take this step. While work sessions might not be the most exciting primetime viewing available on TV, we commend Shorewood for finding new ways to keep residents informed.
Report: Excelsior Planning Commission Hears Pavillion Proposal
The Lakeshore Weekly News did a recap on last week's Excelsior Planning Commission meeting where they heard about the Pavillion proposal.
http://www.weeklynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=4268