St. Paul Antics

So much for cooperation, working together and elimination of posturing. A few days after Governor Dayton calls for toning down the posturing etc., the new leaders of the Minnesota House and Senate (Republicans) send the Governor a bill which he told them he would veto. And that is exactly what he did.

Okay, each side needs to save face. The Republicans want to show those folks who elected them that they can cut spending. The Governor wants to show the folks that elected him that he will support needed programs. Did this passage and vetoing dance have to happen? I don't think so. If they really want to work together, could not the leaders of the House and Senate had a conversation with the new Governor about cuts he could accept and could not accept? They could have crafted a bill to make them look good and then the Governor could have line item vetoed parts that he did not like which would have made him look good.

And the state of the state message had its own posturing. The Governor's reference to the hearing in the House that dealt with a possible government shut down scenario. I was appalled that Senator Amy Koch vehemently denied the shut down issue. She said, "we never discussed shutting down". Well, maybe she, personally did not, but her party is in control of House committees. Issues that get hearings do not get them without the blessing of the leadership - which in this case was Republicans.

I hope they can erase these spats, quit acting like Junior High Schoolers, and get to work! end