June 13-16, 2011
Jun 13 17:03 Sen. Koch worries about Gov. Dayton's secrecy Jun 13 13:31 BREAKING NEWS: Dayton's Transportation Shutdown Consequences Jun 14 02:01 AFSCME's Political Agenda: Higher Taxes, Bigger Government Jun 14 14:07 TPaw and Bachmann turn in solid debate performances Jun 14 14:53 Dirty DEEDS Done Dirt Cheap Jun 16 05:06 Gov. Dayton, Budget Catastrophes & a Constitutional Crisis Jun 16 02:58 GOP Highlights Do-Nothing DFL, Do-Nothing Dayton, Do-Nothing Media Jun 16 16:09 Shutdown Implications Jun 16 19:23 Pressure Mounting On Gov. Dayton?
Prior Months: Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Sen. Koch worries about Gov. Dayton's secrecy
Sen. Koch released this statement this afternoon:
June 13, 2011
STATEMENT FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AMY KOCH ON LCPFP MEETING ON DAYTON ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS FOR POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
(St. Paul) -- Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) issued the following statement regarding the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) meeting on the Dayton administration's plans for a possible government shutdown.
'According to recent media reports, Governor Mark Dayton's administration has been compiling 'a shutdown plan largely in secret,' and the details of these shutdown plans have yet to be publicly released. The lack of transparency by the Dayton administration is unacceptable. The citizens of Minnesota deserve to know who will be affected most by Governor Dayton's decision to shutdown state government.'
The LCPFP will meet next on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
Minnesotans have a right to know whether the Dayton administration is manufacturing a budget crisis to advance their 2012 election strategy. Minnesotans have a right to know whether the Dayton administration is manufacturing this crisis to put pressure on legislators to pass a tax increase Minnesotans don't want.
Also, Minnesotans have a right to know if the Dayton administration is contacting lobbyists and their special interest allies to pressure legislators during this manufactured crisis.
The DFL's agenda isn't popular. That's why they trounced in last November's election. The DFL's agenda of tax increases and microscopic spending cuts isn't playing well with Minnesotans. The DFL's 'balanced approach' isn't balanced. It's all about feeding government and having productive people pay for it.
The truly balanced approach to budgeting is the Republicans' approach. Growing Minnesota's economy, reforming government and putting the bureaucracy on a diet is a balanced approach.
The thought that Gov. Dayton is holding meetings orchestrating a government shutdown is digusting but totally believeable. (Gov. Dayton can prove he doesn't want to shut down government by calling a special session to pass the budget bills that he's reached agreement on with Republicans.)
The thought that Gov. Dayton is holding state government hostage for purely political gain isn't what Hubert Humphrey or Paul Wellstone would do, though it's something that Al Franken wouldn't hesitate in doing.
Gov. Dayton, prove that you aren't creating and orchestrating a government shutdown. Gov. Dayton, call that limited special session. Gov. Dayton, sign the bills funding K-12 education, transportation projects, the courts and public safety.
Then we'll know that you're bargaining in good faith.
Originally posted Monday, June 13, 2011, revised 14-Jun 1:52 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 15-Jun-11 08:43 AM
Is she at all related to the Koch brothers from Kansas?
I know it is a fairly common German name, but if she's related that would be nice to know.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 15-Jun-11 09:12 AM
Eric, What's with the Koch obsession? Why don't I hear you complaining about how Gov. Dayton and the union leadership are holding union rank-and-file hostage in their attempt to raise taxes that will kill Minnesota's economy? Republicans passed a balanced budget that spends $34,000,000,000. Gov. Dayton vetoed it because he's obsessed with raising taxes.
How about the people, including myself, who are on state-run health insurance whose bills won't get paid because Gov. Dayton is orchestrating a shutdown with his special interest allies in order to shove a tax increase down Minnesota's throats?
Gov. Dayton is a liar. He's lied when he said that he hopes to work out a budget deal before July 1. That's BS. I've posted documents & conducted interviews with key legislators that prove he's praying for & orchestrating a gov't shutdown.
BREAKING NEWS: Dayton's Transportation Shutdown Consequences
I just spoke with Rep. Mike Beard, the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, about the status of negotiations with the Dayton administration. What Chairman Beard said stunned me because he has a reputation for being a measured man.
First, Chairman Beard said that dedicated funds (gas tax, license tab fees and other taxes) totalled $4,900,000,000 for the 2012-13 biennium. Chairman Beard said that that $4,900,000,000 represents approximately "99.4% of the Transportation budget ."
According to Chairman Beard, the sticking point is over transit project spending. Republicans are willing to spend approximately $60,000,000 in general fund money on these projects. Gov. Dayton is demanding they spend $100,000,000 on transit projects.
Next, Chairman Beard said that he and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Gimse have agreed to write a bill that deals only with dedicated fund projects. The Dayton administration has rejected that offer.
As a result, state projects like the one at 169 and 494 would be halted on July 1 if a budget agreement isn't reached. When asked if this would be a hard shutdown or if people would be allowed to work with the possibility of not getting paid immediately, Rep. Beard said that it would be a hard shutdown because these projects need MnDOT inspectors each step of the way.
If MnDOT is shut down, those inspectors instantly disappear.
There's more to this than just shutting projects down. A government shutdown isn't just about stopping the projects. It's about the cost of tearing down the cranes and other heavy equipment prior to the shutdown, then getting that equipment put back together before restarting those projecs.
The cost associated with that aspect of the shutdown is both expensive and avoidable. Chairman Beard said that choosing the shutdown and its additional expenses is "a dereliction of duty" on the Dayton administration's behalf. Chairman Beard noted that July 1 is the Friday of the long 4th of July weekend.
That can't help but increase the stress being put on Minnesota's highways that weekend, stress they don't need. Detours would be stressed further than they're already stressed.
Most importantly, it's totally avoidable if Gov. Dayton would call a special session to pass a form of lights on bill for dedicated fund transportation projects. Such a bill might get 100-110 votes in the House and another 50+ in the Senate.
If Gov. Dayton shuts down the MnDOT projects, he will have chosen to unnecessarily delay important road projects while adding additional costs onto the projects.
Why would any thoughtful person shut down a government over a $40,000,000 general fund difference on a $5,000,000,000 budget? That's getting 99.2% of what you want and still saying 'no deal'.
If these projects are halted, it will be because Gov. Dayton chose to hold the state hostage to pressure the legislature to voting for the DFL's tax increases.
To paraphrase Chairman Beard, that would be dereliction of duty on Gov. Dayton's behalf.
UPDATE: I should've included the numbers of construction workers and state employees who will be affected by Gov. Dayton's shutdown of MnDOT. This op-ed , written by Chairman Gimse and Chairman Beard, outlines it nicely:
Those affected by a shutdown include the 4,878 employees at the Department of Transportation, 1,961 at the Department of Public Safety (which includes the State Patrol)and the contractors and vendors working with the state of Minnesota who may see their critical work activity suspended or limited.
To put thousands of current and pending contracts on hold, as well as the tens of thousands of jobs on the sidelines indefinitely, is not the type of leadership Minnesotans need in the midst of this economic recession.
Posted Monday, June 13, 2011 3:07 PM
No comments.
AFSCME's Political Agenda: Higher Taxes, Bigger Government
I wish this information was surprising. Unfortunately, it isn't. Here's what I'm talking about:
Eliot Seide is the executive director of The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union which represents thousands of state workers, and he said the union is working to convince 10 Republican lawmakers, six in the House and four in the Senate, to change sides and support Dayton's plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of Minnesotans.
First, whoever wrote this is a terribile writer. That sentence is 62 words long. The recommended maximum length is 18 words. Now to the important stuff.
First, AFSCME is part of the ABM coalition of unions. Prior to AFSCME Council 5's joining forces with Gov. Dayton to ram a tax increase down Minnesotans' throats, AFSCME members were best known as the organization of thugs that threatened Wisconsin businesses with boycotts that might've driven them into bankruptcy:
Members of Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, have begun circulating letters to businesses in southeast Wisconsin, asking them to support workers' rights by putting up a sign in their windows.
If businesses fail to comply, the letter says, 'Failure to do so will leave us no choice but (to) do a public boycott of your business. And sorry, neutral means 'no' to those who work for the largest employer in the area and are union members."
AFSCME Wisconsin is essentially threatening to kill businesses if they don't support AFSCME's agenda. Still, that isn't the worst that AFSCME is guilty of. This might be :
If necessary, we will use the valuable public service jobs that we perform as a weapon and shut this state down.
That quote came from AFSCME Michigan President Herb Sanders. et's summarize what we know thus far:
1. AFSCME Wisconsin won't hesitate to threaten businesses' existence if they don't enthusiastically support AFSCME's agenda.
2. AFSCME Council 5 in Minnesota is targeting legislators who don't support Gov. Dayton's tax increases on Minnesota's job creators.
3. AFSCME Michigan would their union employees to shut down the state of Minnesota if they don't get what they want.
This article speaks volumes about their agenda:
ST. PAUL - 'We will not let Minnesota become the next Wisconsin,' said state snowplow driver Mike Lindholt, addressing a large and energized rally of public employees at the state Capitol Tuesday.
Proposed legislation that brings Wisconsin-style attacks on public workers to Minnesota helped fuel a record turnout for AFSCME Council 5's rally at the Capitol rotunda. Some 1,500 people attended the rally, then fanned out to meet with lawmakers during the union's annual Day on the Hill.
Thankfully, people are standing up to AFSCME's thuggish behavior. In Wisconsin, business owner Dawn Bobo took a proactive approach towards the union thugs. This picture is worth a thousand union threats:
The questions I'm posing to Minnesota businesses are simple: Who will be Minnesota's Dawn Bobo? Who will emphatically say no to the DFL's push to ram job-killing tax increases down our throats? Who will stand up for other businesses threatened by Gov. Dayton's economic policies?
The DFL's agenda won't improve Minnesota's competitiveness, create prosperity or strengthen Minnesota's economy. If Minnesot'a well-being doesn't motivate people to action, then we'll deserve Dayton's third-rate economy.
Limited government is an existential threat to AFSCME and their special interest allies. This is the proverbial hill that they'll fight and die on. Limited government is to PEUs what wooden stakes are to vampires. That's why unions are stepping up their attacks and using the most deceitful tactics imaginable.
Posted Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:01 AM
No comments.
TPaw and Bachmann turn in solid debate performances
First, it's easy for Minnesota conservatives to feel proud of Tim Pawlenty's and Michele Bachmann's performances. Michele's personality shone through most of the night, as did her understanding of banking systems and regulations.
Her saying that she's submitted bills to repeal Obamacare and the Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill was appealing to free market people of all stripes. Her criticism of the EPA, calling it a job-killing agency, was a shining moment.
Michele's explanation of the TEA Party's identity was detailed, accurate and settling. The question came from someone clearly worried about how the TEA Party is characterized. I suspect that Michele's answer eased the gentleman's worries considerably if not eliminated those worries.
TPaw will get criticized for not providing a stronger reply to the Obamneycare question. Still, I thought his answers, especially on health care and his economic goal of 5% annual growth were especially solid. Telling the audience that his plans would boost economic growth by cutting taxes, cutting spending and cutting regulations, starting with repealing Obamacare, was solid, if not strong.
As for his not criticizing Obamneycare, TPaw was right to not continue the fight because it was apparent to me that CNN was hoping that that would be their lead this morning. That said, I think he could've said something like "This is a subject that Gov. Romney and I will simply disagree on." and then let it slide.
The more I see of Mitt, the less impressed I am with him. Twice, he attempted to speak over moderator John King. Both times, it was to criticize President Obama. I thought both answers sounded strained and predictable.
My first reaction to the talkovers was 'If you're going to be obnoxious, at least say something profound.'
None of the candidates made a major stumble. Then again, none of them had a breakout performance, though Michele's performance early in the debate came closest to a breakout performance.
Perhaps my opinion of Mitt's performance is clouded by Erin Haust's reporting of Bain and Co.'s extensive involvement in the carbon credit exchange:
A confidential report entitled "Green Strategies in Oil and Gas" prepared by Bain & Company describes energy efficiency as the "strongest impact on new capital projects... when combined with climate change initiatives."
The report created for the use of a client boasts, "Most energy-efficiency projects are attractive because of their own intrinsic economic equation, but others can become more attractive when associated with the generation of carbon credits."
Judging debate performances is important but it isn't as important as finding out whether a candidate embraces MMGW, as Gov. Romney has, or if he's the father of Obamacare. Looks presidential is meaningless to me. During 2008, lots of people thought then-candidate Obama looked presidential.
President Obama's administration has a long list of economic failures. We don't need Obama light succeeding him.
If TPaw or Michele Bachmann became the 45th POTUS, I wouldn't worry about Obama light. I'd look forward to a lengthy list of positive accomplishments during the next 8 years.
Minnesotans should be proud of TPaw's and Michele's performances. They acquitted themselves well, proving they both belong on that stage.
Posted Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:07 PM
Comment 1 by Rex Newman at 14-Jun-11 06:44 PM
Sorry, Gary, Pawlenty's campaign may have died in the cradle tonight. By not responding, it's mush (Romney) vs squish (Pawlenty) and Romney wins that pairing easily. No steak. No sizzle. Why should any donor send even a dollar more, now?
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 14-Jun-11 08:03 PM
Why should any donor send even a dollar more, now?Because TPaw has the best plan to fix the economy? I don't know but I thought campaigns should be about who would have the best policies, not had the best barber. I won't support Romney. PERIOD. His company is big into Al Gore's CCX. He's unapologetic about Romneycare & he changes his stripes whenever he feels like it. Isn't that what we've got now? NO THANKS!!!
Response 1.2 by Gary Gross at 15-Jun-11 02:30 AM
Perhaps we didn't see what others saw. Check this out. The points are made by a HuffPost infobabe (I'm using a little Rush Limbaugh lingo there) but they're spot on.
Comment 2 by Joseph at 14-Jun-11 11:19 PM
I'm glad that you are enthusiastic about Michele's stances on many economic issues. You have to understand that she used to be just another Republican that talked a good talk about slowing the growth of government. After the 2008 elections, she learned a lot from the Tea Party 'godfather' Ron Paul. If you really want to talk about a candidate that is for truly reducing the size of government, Ron Paul won the debate hands down.
TPaw is so not a serious candidate. His track record here in Minnesota is so embarrassing. Raising 'fees' after pledging to not raise taxes. Sending school district IOUs instead of money. TPaw never really cut anything in Minnesota, I believe that he would cut as much as Obama has.
Rex is right. Mush vs squish is so not worth getting excited about. TPaw has no plan. He has platitudes and talking points.
Response 2.1 by Gary Gross at 15-Jun-11 02:52 AM
Joseph, Michele's been this conservative since long before RP. While she's learned from RP on some banking policies, she's been a financial expert for a very long time. It's worth noting that Michele pretty much totally rejects RP's national security policies.
As for RP being the TEA Party's godfather, there's only one deserving of that title & his name is Rick Santelli, who started the TEA Party movement with his famous rant from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. As for Michele, she's always been the heart & soul of the TEA Party movement.
Finally, TPaw is the only governor in Minnesota history to cut spending from one biennium to the next. That's inarguable statistical fact.
Comment 3 by eric z at 15-Jun-11 08:37 AM
Usually a cornered weasel shows a little fight.
Do you see a Santorum-Bachmann ticket as having any life?
Comment 4 by Rex Newman at 15-Jun-11 04:04 PM
Sorry if I'm piling on but I like what Lauren Sivan said on Red Eye, that if her friends told her she needed a new boyfriend, that her current is broke and calls her fat, she wouldn't leave him for Tim Pawlenty. Red Eye scored TPaw 0 for 3, with 2 votes for Bachmann.
Comment 5 by Joseph at 16-Jun-11 04:37 PM
Michele was first elected in 2003 to state Senate vs Ron first elected to US House in 1979. Ron has held his beliefs since before then so I think he has been conservative for a bit longer. Michele also didn't start hear Tea Party caucus until 7/10. As for her rejecting Ron's foreign policy is what makes her weak and shows that she is not serious about truly cutting spending. The empire needs to end for the US to get its financial house in order.
Santelli's rant was in 2/09. Ron's supporters had a Tea Party rally and moneybomb in 12/07. Over a year before. Santelli's rant was still great though.
TPaw "cutting" spending by pushing budget expenses to the next budget doesn't really count.
Response 5.1 by Gary Gross at 16-Jun-11 05:21 PM
Joseph, Michele's been a conservative all her life. Paul's been a libertarian all my adult life. Nothing wrong with that but it is a difference.
When Michele started the TEA Party Caucus is irrelevant. Her standing with TEA Party activists is substantially greater than Dr. Paul's. DEAL WITH IT.
As for Dr. Paul's alleged TEA Party rally, I'm talking about the real thing, not the gimmick RP might've been involved in.
Comment 6 by Joseph at 16-Jun-11 10:12 PM
Gary, I know that you like to use the original meaning of a word. In that sense, Ron's views are much more traditionally conservative that Michele's. Your right that using today's terms, Ron is much more libertarian.
You should deal with the fact that the Tea Party movement was started by Ron Paul supporters. Michele's standing with the people that claim to be Tea Party people, but can't name what they would cut from the budget, doesn't mean anything.
Dr. Paul's Tea Party rally and money bomb are very real. You should do a few minutes of research. Just a few stories.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/12/ron_pauls_tea_p.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2007/12/ron-paul-beats-own-fundraising.html
Comment 7 by Marguerita Lundstrom at 12-Aug-11 02:07 AM
Healthcare reform is a godsend for many repubs.
Comment 8 by Bob J. at 12-Aug-11 09:52 AM
Paul is downright dangerous on national security. Obama is making this a much more dangerous world so it's vital that our next real President be strong and solid on defense.
However, to the main point. To suggest that the Libertarian wing of the Republican Party started the Tea Party is ridiculous, unless you're going to call Rick Santelli a libertarian. It's a grass roots movement that started as a groundswell and has no clear leader.
Dirty DEEDS Done Dirt Cheap
One thing that's becoming exceptionally apparent is that the Dayton administration isn't tethered to the truth. The latest proof of that is this letter from DEEDS Commissioner Mark Phillips. Here's what he said:
'[ ... the] Minnesota State Legislature adjourned May 23, 2011, without appropriating money to fund the operations of state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2011.'
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dave Thompson quickly responded with this statement :
In the letter to contractors, vendors, and grantees, dated, June 10, 2011, Commissioner Philips stated that 'the Minnesota State Legislature adjourned May 23, 2011, without appropriating money to fund the operations of state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2011.'
'DEED's lie is shameful. The Minnesota State Legislature adjourned on May 23, 2011, having passed the largest general fund budget in state history, which appropriated money to fund the operations of state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2011. It is inconceivable that the Department of Employment and Economic Development, under Governor Dayton's direction, did not know this fact. Therefore I must assume this is a deliberate attempt by DEED to spread misinformation about the work product of the Minnesota legislature. DEED Commissioner Mark Philips should issue a new, corrected letter to contractors, vendors and grantees reflecting that truth,' said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Thompson.
'Whitewashing by members of Governor Dayton's administration won't change the fact that the legislature passed a complete, balanced budget by the constitutionally required deadline. It won't change the fact that we offered a compromise that would fund priorities like education and public safety at the Governor's levels to prevent his decision to shutdown government. It won't change the fact that, if signed, our budget would keep Minnesota government open and operating.
Governor Dayton is preparing to shut down government to raise taxes, something, as a candidate, he said he wouldn't do. The decision to shut down government is on Governor Dayton and on him alone,' concluded Senate Assistant Majority Leader Thompson.
Phillips wouldn't have lied had he said that Gov. Dayton didn't sign the appropriations bills that the legislature passed. Phillips won't say that, though, because the Dayton administration and their communications team are singing from the hymnal that 'The only thing this legislature accomplished was putting a divisive social issue on the ballot in 2012."
That lie aside, the truth is that the Republican legislature passed a number of reforms in addition to passing a balanced budget that didn't require tax increases but that will strengthen Minnesota's economy.
That's something else the Dayton administration can't say. In fact, they can't even say that they've submitted a full budget, complete with specific policies and spending targets.
I pointed out in this post that Gov. Dayton's budget is an orphan :
One exchange:
Question: 'Do you support the tax increases in this bill?'
Thissen: 'The governor is delivering on what he promised. We have always been in our DFL caucus in favor of a solution that is going to be fair: We need to look at the details of it. I think the most important thing now to look at is asking the Republicans, okay, what's your answer.'
Question: 'That didn't answer the question: Do you support these tax increases?'
Bakk: 'If you look at the tax incidence study, it will show you that more well to do Minnesotans, especially those over $500,000 in income pay a little bit over eight percent of their income in taxes and the rest of us, in the middle class and lower income Minnesotans, pay about 12.3 percent. And I think from a policy standpoint, the governor is right that everyone should be expect to pay about the same percentage of their income in state and local taxes.'
A third:
Question: 'So yes or no. Do you two support the tax package in the governor's proposal? Yes or no.'
Bakk: 'Well, I certainly want to see the budget pages and I'm not going to tell you if they offer a vote on it I'm going to vote yes or no on it because we are actually having a hearing in the tax committee (to delve into the budget) either tomorrow or Thursday: After Thursday I can probably give you an answer.'
The reality is that Gov. Dayton's budget isn't a serious budget. It won't strengthen Minnesota's economy. It won't improve Minnesota's competitiveness regionally, nationally or internationally. It won't bring prosperity back to Minnesota and it certainly won't convince entrepreneurs to put their capital at risk.
Commissioner Phillips should immediately issue a statement that tells the truth. If he doesn't, I'll file it in the 'Gov. Dayton doesn't care about the truth' file.
Posted Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:53 PM
No comments.
Gov. Dayton, Budget Catastrophes & a Constitutional Crisis
Rachel Stassen-Berger's article about Gov. Dayton's proposed government shutdown is really a story about Gov. Dayton's depravity and his inability to set the right priorities. I intentionally used the word depravity based on Dictionary.com's definition of depravity :
the state or an instance of moral corruption
Here's what Gov. Dayton said that indicates he's morally corrupt:
Despite what he said would be the vast and enormous impact of such a shutdown, Dayton said Wednesday that a short government closure "still pales in comparison" to the impact of a Republican "all cuts" budget.
"A temporary shutdown, painful as it may be, is not an equivalent to the kind of catastrophes that would be ongoing if I acceded to this budget," Dayton said. "That's just a fundamental principle."
First, calling the Republican budget, the largest in Minnesota state history, an all-cuts budget is a bald-faced lie. Gov. Dayton was once a school teacher. Perhaps he could draw on his math skills to explain how you can reach the biggest budget in state history by cutting funding for each of the departments.
The simple fact is that Gov. Dayton knows his wisecrack isn't a serious statement but rather a statement designed to sidestep a serious debate on his statement.
Next, Gov. Dayton hasn't explained in detail what "catastrophes" will happen if he signs the Republican budget into law. For instance, does Gov. Dayton think signing a Transportation Bill that spends $4,960,000,000 instead of spending $5,000,000,000 will cause catastrophic harm to Minnesotans?
Surely, Gov. Dayton can't think the Republican budgets funding the courts, K-12 Education and Public Safety would cause catastrophic harm to Minnesotans. That's because Republicans agreed to Gov. Dayton's budgets on those budgets.
In fact, shouldn't Gov. Dayton call a special session to pass those bills and sign them into law? Shouldn't Gov. Dayton sign a new Transportation Bill that spends the dedicated funds that aren't part of the general fund budget debate?
Instead, Gov. Dayton is giving these instructions to K-12 administrators:
Even before final decisions are made, preparations took on fresh urgency Wednesday, with state Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius telling superintendents to begin contingency planning. Districts would need to dip into their own reserves or borrow to keep summer school going.
It's a fact that Gov. Dayton could sign the K-12 Education bill before the RightOnline Conference starts, which would fund K-12 education for the 2012-13 biennium. It's a fact that signing the K-12 education bill would fund K-12 at the amount Gov. Dayton requested.
What's the justification for Gov. Dayton telling superintendents that they'll have to "dip into their own reserves or borrow to keep summer school going"? Wouldn't the borrowing be catastrophic in its own right? In light of that fact, who's causing the catastrophes?
I'd argue that it's Gov. Dayton.
I'd argue that Gov. Dayton's solution to the budget crisis would start a constitutional crisis. Here's my proof:
Dayton offered a different solution in his petition.
"Order the parties to mediate," Dayton asked the court. He suggested former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz or former Associate Justice James Gilbert to act as court-appointed mediators. Swanson had asked that Gilbert be appointed special master.
Only if mediation fails, Dayton's brief said, should the court infringe "on the constitutional powers of the legislative and executive departments."
Part of Gov. Dayton's so-called solution is to have the co-equal branch of government, aka the Judicial branch, to infringe upon "the constitutional powers of the legislative and executive departments." That's Gov. Dayton's suggestion. It's simply unacceptable to have Minnesota's governor tell the courts to violate Minnesota's Constitution.
Gov. Dayton admits that the legislative and executive branches are the branches of government that have the authority to appropriate and spend money. That's bad enough. That said, that isn't what would cause a constitutional crisis. It's his telling the judicial branch to ignore Minnesota's Constitution and do what he wants.
I'd think that ignoring his oath of office would be justification for recalling Gov. Dayton. Certainly, ignoring Minnesota's Constitution isn't something a sovereign state can tolerate.
Gov. Dayton must be recalled or otherwise removed from office. It's that simple.
Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011 5:55 AM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 16-Jun-11 01:19 PM
Gary:
I have offered my mediation services before if the governor will listen.
I order:
One, both sides present a $34 billion budget.
Two, both sides compare their $34 billion budget and every item they agreed to is passed.
Three, come next January the tax increase and the $1.7 billion the governor wants to spend can be discussed then.
Simple solution! Why is Dayton threatening this shut down if it's this simple!
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
GOP Highlights Do-Nothing DFL, Do-Nothing Dayton, Do-Nothing Media
I'm left with a difficult question that I don't know has one right answer. Here's what Bob Hume, Gov. Dayton's press hack, accused Republicans of :
GOP strategy: attack the governor, attack the media, attack the messengers. Attack anything but the problem.
Let's see. The Do-Nothing DFL legislators didn't put a redistricting plan together . The Do-Nothing DFL legislators didn't put a budget together. The Do-Nothing DFL legislators didn't even adopt Gov. Dayton's orphaned budget as their own.
Do-Nothing Dayton submitted a budget, then didn't fight for it until after the session had finished and he'd vetoed the Republicans' budget. Do-Nothing Dayton vetoed a host of reforms that would've saved Minnesota taxpayers budgeting for a decade, possibly a generation.
To be fair, though, Gov. Dayton did a few things. He met with Roger Goodell rather than negotiate a Transportation bill to keep MnDOT running and the road and bridge repairs going throughout the summer. Gov. Dayton took time from his busy schedule to meet with DFL activists and lobbyists to plan their shutdown strategy, too.
Let's remember that Gov. Dayton arbitrarily chose to not negotiate with GOP negotiators until the conference report had been agreed to and passed. Let's remember that DFL legislators filibustered the session the last 3 nights of the session, then had the chutzpah of saying that Republicans didn't get anything done. Let's remember that the Twin Cities media didn't question Gov. Dayton's inaction rather than negotiating a final budget agreement.
Instead, the Twin Cities media sat entirely silent on this subject. Not virtually silent. Entirely silent.
Yes, Bob Hume, conservative activists will question the Do-Nothing DFL legislature when they're part of the problem, not part of the solution. Yes, conservative activists will question Gov. Dayton when he shows with his inactions that he'd rather be part of the problem than a proactive problem solver.
And yes, conservative activists will question the media when they refuse to hold DFL 'leaders' accountable while they refuse to participate in any meaningful way in the legislative process. Whether it was Sen. Bakk, Rep. Thissen or Rep. Winkler, DFL legislators spent more time whining about the GOP legislation than they spent offering constructive alternatives.
Looking back, it's pretty obvious that the die was cast on Feb. 9, during Gov. Dayton's State of the State Address . Here's what I said then:
Early in the speech, Gov. Dayton called for a pledge that the legislature not shut the government down. That's overheated talk of extraordinary proportions . There won't be a government shutdown unless Gov. Dayton insists on following through with his job-killing tax increases. PERIOD.
Between the DFL's legislative delaying tactics, Gov. Dayton's APRIL REFUSAL to negotiate in good faith to reach a budget agreement and his statement in his State of the State address, it's rather apparent that the DFL isn't interested in doing the right thing.
They'd rather win fights than do what's right. I'll highlight that every time.
Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011 2:58 AM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 16-Jun-11 01:14 PM
Gary:
Part of the problem is that the DFL thinks they are winning this debate. THEY'RE NOT WINNING THIS DEBATE!!
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 2 by Bill C at 16-Jun-11 01:58 PM
My fantasy would be that whoever runs against Dayton and the above mentioned legislators (Thissen, Bakk, Winkiedink, et al.) would read this post and smack them upside the head (figuratively) in debates with this information. Leave the kid gloves at home, no more Mr Nice Guy, etc. They have no scruples about getting down and dirty, we need to reciprocate.
Shutdown Implications
It's been established that Gov. Dayton is intentionally shutting down government to inflict the maximum amount of pain on Minnesotans. He's doing that in a desparate attempt to raise taxes. The left's willingness to inflict financial distress on health care providers is evident in this memo:
We just received fairly reliable information from the Administration that there is a good chance that the Governor's shutdown plan will include terminating payments to both health plans and health care providers for all government programs effective July 1. We believe that the decision may be that, even though eligibility for programs will continue, providers and health plans will not be paid for providing their services and coverage. The intent appears to be to have an immediate, strong impact of the shutdown to create the greatest possible pain and resulting pressure on the Legislature to resolve the dispute.
Many of you would be seriously, if not fatally, damaged by an extended period of time with no payments under government programs. For this reason, we are planning to work with other health care organizations to try to plan and launch an aggressive media, grassroots and lobbying campaign directed toward legislators who are swing votes in overcoming the deadlock and to maintain as much health care program funding as possible.
This memo, which has miraculously avoided mention in the Twin Cities' media, tells a pretty telling story about the extent Gov. Dayton and his special interest allies will go to raise taxes. My interview with Rep. Mike Beard tells an equally compelling story about the tactics this administration and its corrupt special interest allies will employ:
First, Chairman Beard said that dedicated funds (gas tax, license tab fees and other taxes) totalled $4,900,000,000 for the 2012-13 biennium. Chairman Beard said that that $4,900,000,000 represents approximately '99.4% of the Transportation budget.'
According to Chairman Beard, the sticking point is over transit project spending. Republicans are willing to spend approximately $60,000,000 in general fund money on these projects. Gov. Dayton is demanding they spend $100,000,000 on transit projects.
Next, Chairman Beard said that he and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Gimse have agreed to write a bill that deals only with dedicated fund projects. The Dayton administration has rejected that offer.
As a result, state projects like the one at 169 and 494 would be halted on July 1 if a budget agreement isn't reached. When asked if this would be a hard shutdown or if people would be allowed to work with the possibility of not getting paid immediately, Rep. Beard said that it would be a hard shutdown because these projects need MnDOT inspectors each step of the way.
If MnDOT is shut down, those inspectors instantly disappear.
I was stunned that this DFL administration put a higher priority on raising taxes than they put on public safety and keeping Minnesotans employed. In fact, this DFL administration has proven with its private memos and its vetoes that it intends to shut government down. Here's a collection of the DFL's 'greatest hits':
Precious little has been written in the Twin Cities media about this angle of the shutdown. Lefty bloggers and tweeters treat these accusations like they're bald-faced lies. I guess they'll trust the DFL's chanting points rather than their lying eyes.
As more people get wind of these stories, expect support for Gov. Dayton's agenda to start quickly eroding. Gov. Dayton's shutdown strategy isn't popular with the people. They certainly don't want the state shut down for purely partisan reasons.
Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011 4:09 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 20-Jun-11 09:50 AM
I have seen a Strib item about how a shutdown might affect Anoka County.
My question in this, will the county board members, through a shutdown, still pay themselves 100 cents on the dollar salary, fund 100 cents on the dollar on board member benefits?
Of course they will. A board dominated by Republicans.
Look, Siviraja, Westerberg, West.
Go figure. I believe they consider firefighters and police a rung lower on the importance ladder than themselves. Conservatism in practice, vs conservatism in theory.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 20-Jun-11 03:19 PM
First, your arguments are silly because the operations of a county or city government has nothing whatsoever to do with state government operations. I can't even take your argument seriously. It's that foolish.
FYI- Firefighters & police officers are paid by local units of government. They, too, have nothing to do with Gov. Dayton's shutdown of state government.
Pressure Mounting On Gov. Dayton?
It was inevitable that pressure would mount on Gov. Dayton as the shutdown drew closer. Still, I'm happy that it's started sooner rather than later. This article indicates that union construction workers aren't happy:
On the transportation issue, Republicans Gimse of Willmar and Beard of Shakopee said they plan to launch a statewide tour with their request next week after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton rejected the idea.
'There is no logical reason to shut down construction,' Gimse said.
If Dayton and Republican legislative leaders do not reach a deal for the two-year budget that begins on July 1, much of state government could shut down because it lacks authority to spend money. That would include highway construction projects, where the transportation leaders said up to 10,000 people are working.
Gimse and Beard have written a new transportation funding bill that uses $4.6 billion in gasoline and motor vehicle taxes that must be spent on transportation. They removed general fund money that is part of overall budget talks.
However, the $62 million in general funds they removed from the new bill would be used for transit and as recently as Wednesday Dayton said he cannot accept Republican cuts in that area.
Gov. Dayton's response was predictable:
The governor's office repeated this morning that Dayton will not sign some budget bills until deals are reached on them all.
Predictably, the Twin Cities media isn't asking Gov. Dayton why he's doing the things he's doing. Gov. Dayton didn't negotiate with Republicans until the conference reports for the budget bills were passed. In fact, Gov. Dayton didn't even negotiate then. He just vetoed the spending bills.
Now he's refusing to sign any bills until Republicans agree to raise taxes. Gov. Dayton's tax hikes won't strengthen Minnesota's economy, improve Minnesota's competitiveness, create prosperity or increase entrepreneurial activity.
Those factors are important but they aren't the only reasons why Gov. Dayton shouldn't have vetoed the budget. Gov. Dayton should've signed the bills because Rep. Keith Downey's and Rep. King Banaian's bills to reform government and the budget process, as well as establish a sunset commission that would eliminate departments, agencies and commissions that've outlived their usefulness.
Gov. Dayton might win people over if he didn't say foolish things like this :
'I consider virtually all services provided by the state to be essential, and all of them have been established by previous governors and legislatures to serve and benefit people throughout Minnesota,' he said, adding that the state Constitution does not allow the state to continue normal operations without a budget.
If Gov. Dayton continues saying foolish things like that, he'll quickly lose support. People don't buy into the notion that "virtually all services provided by the state" are essential. Whether they can identify specific line items worthy of cutting or not, they think many of the line items are payoffs to political cronies and supporters.
This statement won't win Gov. Dayton many supporters either:
'A temporary shutdown, painful as it would be, is not equivalent to the kind of catastrophes that would be ongoing that would occur if I acceded to this budget,' Dayton said of the Republican spending plan. 'Some things are worth standing up and fighting for,' he added.
Gov. Dayton, are you saying that putting 10,000 construction workers is worth fighting for? Gov. Dayton, are you saying that refusing bills that have been agreed to is something worth fighting for?
Gov. Dayton's priorities aren't Minnesota's priorities. Letting 10,000 people sit unemployed while throwing a temper tantrum isn't a Minnesota priority. Forcing schools to borrow money they don't have after the K-12 budget was agreed to isn't a Minnesota priority.
This is where Minnesotans get to see the real Mark Dayton and the real DFL. They're the hateful people who put people on unemployment in their attempt to pass a tax increase they don't want.
Democrats might get excited but independents won't support that type of disgusting win-at-all-costs agenda.
Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011 7:23 PM
Comment 1 by Pat Hanson at 29-Jun-11 10:19 AM
Please pass this directly to Gov. Dayton. Thank you!
Gov. Dayton, you need to get a handle on our state deficit immediately, but you can not raise taxes because people are already taxed out and can't handle any more of that. Also, please do not permit same-sex marriages in our state. If you do, we will reap the negative reprecussions of that as well. Remember the morals and values that you were brought up with, as well as what does GOD's word says. I understand that you say you are a christian, well, then what are your christian beliefs and what does Christ say in the Bible?
If you profess to be a christian, you have to believe in what the Bible says and the whole of it is true. Please do what's right for the benefit of the people of Minnesota. I have always loved our state, but for some years now, we have made some very bad choices and permitted those choices to take place and keep them. Let's turn things around and for the better. Also, don't you think that education is very important to our children and that we need help in that area? This includes great and competent teachers that want to teach children and are not in it for the money and benefits only. I don't think teachers should have tenure either. What other job has tenure? We need to change across the USA. Abortion is another issue that we need to kick out of this counry; amd I believe you know the reason for that as well. Also, we need to support Israel and be their Allie at all costs. We do not have to put up with what the Muslims nor what Islam
says we have to do or should do. We do not want Chrislam in our country or state. Gov. Dayton, work for the betterment of our people and state. PLEASE!
Sincerely,
Pat Hanson
Warroad, MN
Comment 2 by Pat Hanson at 29-Jun-11 10:23 AM
Please read the above message.
