Pawlenty Budget: The “Reaganesque” moment that might have been!

I understand how hard it is to work through anything in politics. On one hand there is the personal view of how one politician would balance a budget combined, in our political environment, with how politicians in a legislative body would address balancing the budget. Obviously differences would occur.

The Pawlenty budget fix was a great move on many levels. The Democrats and beltway pundits were all caught by surprise, especially, by the tax cut provision. I thought the press conference held by Democrats showed that the leadership in the House and Senate were surprised and certainly a little “miffed”.

The one area of disappointment I had was that the Governor had a chance to come out and have, dare I say, a “Reaganesque” moment.

I want to be clear. I am all for everything the Governor presented in his budget recommendations. I am certainly for tax-cuts and balancing budgets through reform and spending reductions.

However, I wish the Governor had pushed the envelope by bringing the need to reform our Minnesota Health & Welfare System. There is much frustration out in Minnesota with taxpaying citizens on this issue. I have heard Pawlenty speak on the subject many times, but it has never been with consistency or passion.

Secondly, I would love to have seen the Governor come out and trim something in our tax system that would stimulate our sagging business environment. I am not sure the small reduction in this instance was anything more than pointing Democrats in the right direction on where taxes need to go.

Minnesota is going to need to reform health care and tax systems to remain competitive. I cannot imagine a better economic environment to educate Minnesotans around our state on winning issues for Republicans.

The Pawlenty 2008 Budget Plan:

$250 from Budget Reserves
$341 from Reduced State Spending
$250 from Health Care Access Fund Surplus