April 30, 2013
Apr 30 00:00 Keystone Cops, Senate de-Bakk-le edition Apr 30 08:24 President Potter's misguided vision
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Keystone Cops, Senate de-Bakk-le edition
In March of 2011, Sen. Bakk hinted that Republicans didn't have the sufficient experience to run the Senate . Yesterday, the DFL-controlled Senate laid the biggest egg in Minnesota legislative history :
There were a few hiccups along the way but the Minnesota Senate voted for a tax bill that raises income taxes on top earners, increases tobacco taxes and expands the sales tax to clothing and other services.
The bill's final passage came after the Senate initially defeated the measure. Senate Democrats quickly met in private and then voted to reconsider the initial vote.
Two Democrats switched their votes. Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL- Apple Valley, says he switched his vote from no to yes because he was worried the Senate would not be able to commit to spending priorities if the tax bill failed. "For me, what it came down to quite honestly is that we made a lot of gains in education," Clausen said. "I ran on an education platform and I wasn't willing to put those education investments at risk by not having this tax bill."
DFL Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says several DFL members were confused when a few Republicans signaled they would support the bill but eventually switched to a no vote. "There were people that voted no because they thought there were plenty of votes up to pass it," Bakk said. "I think people didn't realize that people were going to play a little trick when the roll was closed and switch their vote back. I think there would have easily been the same number of votes had the Republicans had been honest and put up their red vote when the roll was called."
Bakk said he didn't twist arms to convince Clausen or Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, to switch their votes. Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, also voted for the bill after not voting the first time.
Mr. Scheck was spinning the Senate's vote on the Tax Bill when he said "there were a few hiccups along the way" to passing the Senate Tax Bill. Having a big majority in the legislature means that you pass the bills you prioritize. Getting the DFL's highest priority bill defeated might be proof of outright sloppiness on Sen. Bakk's behalf. Either that or Sen. Clausen and Sen. Hoffman got lectured for thinking they were elected to represent their district's wishes.
When Sen. Bakk lectured Republicans about the need for experienced leadership, little did anyone think that they'd see Sen. Bakk look the part of inept freshman legislator in his first week in St. Paul. Monday, that's precisely what Sen. Bakk looked like.
It's bad enough that the DFL got the policies wrong. It's worse that they got the policies wrong, then had to vote a second time to pass tax policies that will a) raise taxes on the middle class, b) hurt Minnesota's economy, c) drive companies from Minnesota and d) hurt Minnesota's retailers.
When Minnesotans elected a DFL majority to the Senate, I'm certain they didn't think they were voting for middle class tax increases and Sen. Bakk's inept leadership. Unfortunately, that's what we're stuck with for the next 3 years.
Tags: Tax Increases , Tom Bakk , Greg Clausen , John Hoffman , Keystone Cops , Middle Class Tax Increase , Ann Rest , Cigarette Tax , Income Tax , Tax Bill , DFL , Convenience Stores , Jobs , MNGOP
Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:00 AM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 30-Apr-13 09:19 AM
We all knew that in the end the DFL would pass this tax bill so no matter how inept they are, we knew what was going to happen. What is disturbing is that Sen. Senjem voted along with the DFL to raise taxes on all Minnesotans, not just the rich, just so the Mayo Clinic could get a big fat subsidy.
Comment 2 by walter hanson at 30-Apr-13 11:07 AM
What is the DFL majority in the senate again? 37-30? If that is the case the bill should pass quite easily.
Especially if one Republican joined you.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 3 by Gary Gross at 30-Apr-13 12:31 PM
The DFL majority in the Senate is 39-28.
President Potter's misguided vision
When President Potter met with SCSU Aviation students , he said 'I just have this to say about the aviation program being closed, the decision has been made, the chancellor signed off on that decision~ He's absolutely right. The decision was made. Chancellor Steve Rosenstone signed off on the decision. It's also true that the things he said are totally irrelevant.
In his installation speech , Chancellor Rosenstone made this statement:
For more than 150 years, our colleges and universities have prepared Minnesota's workforce. We have supplied skilled workers and professionals to lead new and growing companies, and we have educated the Minnesotans who knit together the fabric of our communities, from teachers and social workers to police officers and nurses.
If it's determined that it's important for MnSCU to continue supplying "skilled workers and professionals to lead new and growing companies", then it's time to put action to those words. The famous economist John Maynard Keynes was once questioned why he had changed his mind. Here's Keynes' reply :
'When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?'
When President Potter announced the closing of SCSU's Aviation program, it's possible he didn't know about the looming pilot shortage. It's possible that he ignored the information. It's possible that President Potter doesn't think supplying "skilled workers" to "growing companies" is an important priority.
There are some indisputable things that must be considered:
- There's a pilot shortage that's waiting for a solution.
- That shortage threatens grounding planes, giving business travellers fewer options when they have to travel.
- St. Cloud State has the opportunity to help be part of the solution to that problem.
- There's a shortage of airplane maintenance workers.
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College has the opportunity to be part of the solution to that problem.
- The City of St. Cloud wants to bring a regional air carrier to the St. Cloud Regional Airport.
- Having St. Cloud State be the major supplier of pilots to the pilot pipeline might be the final piece of the puzzle to bringing regional air service to St. Cloud.
Considering these things, why wouldn't St. Cloud State keep the program open? A visionary leader would jump at the opportunity to be a solution provider, especially if it's a solution that would positively and powerfully impact the city he lives in.
Earlier in this post, I referenced John Maynard Keynes' quote. I did that to highlight the fact that it's ok to change directions if it's for the right reasons. I'd argue that it isn't just ok to change your mind for the right principles. I'd argue that it's imperative.
If President Potter wants to be part of these solutions, he must change his mind. If he rejects that opportunity, then he'll be credited with making a bad decision on an important issue.
Tags: Earl Potter , St. Cloud State , Steven Rosenstone , MnSCU , Workforce Development , Pilot Shortage , Regional Air Service , John Maynard Keynes , Leadership , Economic Development
Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:24 AM
Comment 1 by Nick at 30-Apr-13 12:15 PM
Little does Potter know. My employer ExpressJet Airlines is pulling planes out of the desert like there's no tomorrow. I work at the KC Intl. Airport for them and they are hiring 20 aircraft mechanics for the KC base.
Comment 2 by Crimson Trace at 30-Apr-13 05:37 PM
Gary has covered SCSU and Potter extensively. Potter puts on a great fa~ade...he looks great to the community however he is a bully and a dictator on campus. Yelling at students/staff, escorting Dr. Saffari off campus by security without any real justification, spending taxpayer money like a drunken sailor, traveling the world at taxpayer expense, and shutting down the aviation program is reckless and irresponsible. The whole doctoring grades and transcripts is a nice touch as well. Is this what taxpayers expect in a university president? What are our legislative reps doing about this unacceptable behavior?
