The Strib is on the right track this morning - leading with a story about whether State Government is headed for "
Cooperation or Gridlock?" That is the appropriate question at this point. Right now everyone is saying the right things, but are we just in a post-election honeymoon that will end in an ugly divorce? Only time will tell.
I was hopeful that cooperation would prevail while watching T-Paw's extremely subdued, "message-received," election speech, but was less hopeful when the DFL Senate chose L-Pog as their leader. It would be interesting to know what L-Pog's pitch was to the caucus in the closed meeting and whether it was "choose me 'cause I'll kick their butts" or "choose me because, despite my history, I really can play nice."
Here's my brief take on how the DFL should approach the issues identified in the Strib article:
1. Abortion - "run awaaaaaay!" an early attack on some of the limits put in place during the Republican years would only be vetoed by T-Paw while leading to acrimony across the State. It would also, likely, embolden the Governor to assert himself as the stalwart against liberal excess. Any effort at going after the "social" issues should wait until there are victories in the basic, kitchen-table, issues. As
M-Kel's sign says, "Education, Health Care, Property Taxes."
2. Early Childhood Eduction - This is a winner. Studies show you get the biggest bang for your buck when spending education money on the little guys & galls. It's also hard to see how people can be against spending money here when it makes good policy sense and 50% of kids are starting kindergarten unprepared.
3. Education - A good issue, but a bit divisive. Definately need to make a move to reduce the cost of attending college - I think that's a winner all the way around. Any effort to put money into K-12, needs to integrate some of T-Paw's accountability measures. Much of the public feels that increases in funding goes into teacher salaries and doesn't do anything to improve the classroom. To some degree, they're right, but we need to be able to attract talented teachers, as well. Tough issue.
4. Health Care - This is a no brainer. Everybody needs to work together here and accomplish something, otherwise the public will throw them all out next time.
5. Smoking Ban - Tough Issue. Particularly becuase the DFL has chosen Twin Cities representation in its leadership and has left out the outstate. Generally, outstate doesn't like the smoking ban as much as the metro area. Passing this early would only confirm to conservative leaning outstaters that they've lost their voice at the capitol to urban liberals.
6. Taxes - There is danger in raising the gas tax (Do you hear the Republicans in 2008 . . . "We TOLD you!"). In addition, everyone is going to be annoyed that we voted for the Transportation Amendment and now, after the fact, we're being told, "Oh, by the way, that isn't going to help - thanks, but we're going to raise your taxes anyway). Conversly, property tax relief is a no-brainer - especially with a 1 billion dollar surplus anticipated. Even something as silly as "Jesse Checks" would please the public. (What would those be called? Poggy-Checks? Timmy-Checks? I don't know). The question, though, is whether you somehow provide direct relief or provide relief to the Cities/Counties in the hope that it translates into a reduction (increase in LGA, etc.)
7. Transportation - Good issue, but balance is needed between things like light rail and fixing outstate potholes. Again, look for charges that the DFL has been hijacked by urban liberals and anger over a possible DFL gas tax increase after the public was pursuaded to pass the transportation amendment.
No that's not a DFL proposal. . . or even a the musings of a classic Minnesota moderate Republican Governer - such as Elmer Anderson. It's from T-Paw's recently announced "Next Generation Energy Iniative"
