When Trains Collide
Pawlenty VS Minnesota Democrats
Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said they would focus on the issues of property taxes, education, and health care “like a laser beam.” However, I wonder if the average Minnesotan feels more like a deer in the headlights of a train barreling down the tracks.
There are about six weeks left in the 2007 legislative session. Personally I have my bets on yet another special session. The bills heading to the Governor are set for a veto. The bills with tax increases have little chance of an override with the exception of a watered down gas tax according to my sources in St. Paul.
I am still surprised Democrats are reaching the way they have in their first year. I think it’s been a disastrous public relations nightmare. I’ve personally given up trying to keep track of the hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax increases on top of the huge state surplus. Even Steve Sviggum, who everyone thought would leave after the last election cycle, seems to have found his stride.
In Clarissa from The Mayor’s perspective Democrats are bent on gutting JOBZ, implementing smoking bans on private property, and really providing no real property tax reform except for income redistribution schemes. Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba has really been put on the hot seat in this area. She is trying to talk the party line right now, or at least trying to put a bow on it. One old Democrat here told me “St. Paul liberals are about to shoot the old Blue Dogs back behind the shed at this rate.”
A couple observations:
First, the Governor is in the better bio-diesel train at this point. Anyone who is being honest would rather argue the position of keeping taxes low and spending in the 9 percent range.
Second, the Governor isn’t defending the slight Republican majority this time so he is not needing the deal. I hope Democrats know four years is an eternity in politics and they have more to lose in this session.
