As others see it: State government dysfunctional

Talk about it

Last week, a judge ruled Gov. Tim Pawlenty had overstepped his authority when he “unalloted” budget items in order to keep the state financially afloat.

The ruling, which only pertains to a $2.7 million portion of the budget, has huge implications for Pawlenty, the Legislature and the state. While it could mean that a governor may not use unallotment as a budgeting strategy, it might also mean the state won’t have enough money to pay the bills.

Think government shutdown.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Speaker of the Minnesota House Margaret Anderson Kelliher hailed the ruling as a victory for Minnesotans, further showing how out of touch she is with the state.

A potential shutdown is now a victory? ...

The problem seems to be one of leadership — the DFL, especially in the House, was outmaneuvered when it sent the budget bills to Pawlenty. Only a judicial technicality seems to be stopping Pawlenty from doing what he had to do — balance the budget.

While we find fault with many of the decisions Pawlenty made as he cut his way to a balanced budget, he was, after all, doing what the Legislature wouldn’t do.

The problem with the leader-ship in the Legislature is that no one is willing to say “no.”

There can’t be new programs because we simply can’t afford more taxes. We have to cut back because our economy has shrunk.

Yet the DFL seems unable to stomach cutting.

Minnesotans have had awful leadership from both parties — a governor who has been averse to compromise and a Legislature that can’t say no. So we have to demand better from both parties.

When the Legislature con-venes soon, Pawlenty would be well served to stop his galavanting across the nation and do the job he was elected to do — sit down with legislative leaders and compromise. ...

Winona Daily News

Tags: opinion, editorials, minnesota, politics, budget, unallotment