[Speed Gibson,
Sunday May 21, 2006 at 8:22pm]
Twins win, we lose
I grew up in St. Louis Park, meaning we grew up "hating" the Cake Eaters across the border (Edina). Back then, head coach Willard Ikola assembled some of the best high school hockey teams money could buy. But later in college, having to listen to an insufferable Minneapolis Southwest alumnus, I rooted for Edina just that once to thrash slight underdog Southwest in the finals that year. But Southwest's goalie stood on his head, beating Edina 1-0 in overtime.
Somehow, I had hoped that the Minnesota Senate, so ably led by Dean Johnson and Larry Pogemiller, would mess up the Twins deal. After all, isn't that the job of a second body, to make it difficult to pass legislation? But it was all smoke, as the Senate retreated to the original House bill.
I haven't found how my representatives voted yet, but the deal is done and the "enlightened" Governor Pawlenty will sign it. To be honest, had I been in his place, I might have signed it, too. It isn't the Governor's job to be Legislator #202, and wealth transfer is the Legislature's primary activity.
I could be mad at Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, but what's the point? Only another clever, outspoken Democrat could hope to oust him from his Republican-proof seat. Maybe he even annoyed Pogemiller by making it impossible to pass a larger, broader tax with the smaller tax on the table. He might have done us a favor.
No, my full wrath is reserved for my Legislators if and when I find that they voted for the final bill. Opat and Hennepin County did not have the authority to impose the tax, not without a referendum. By yanking the ballots out of our hands, they take the full blame.
Nothing compelled the Legislature to act. The process was working. Hennepin County passed it, with the normal expectation of a referendum to accept it. The Legislature, by acting, by preempting democracy, should be made to pay for whatever it is they lacked on this issue - courage, integrity, or common sense.
Somehow, I had hoped that the Minnesota Senate, so ably led by Dean Johnson and Larry Pogemiller, would mess up the Twins deal. After all, isn't that the job of a second body, to make it difficult to pass legislation? But it was all smoke, as the Senate retreated to the original House bill.
I haven't found how my representatives voted yet, but the deal is done and the "enlightened" Governor Pawlenty will sign it. To be honest, had I been in his place, I might have signed it, too. It isn't the Governor's job to be Legislator #202, and wealth transfer is the Legislature's primary activity.
I could be mad at Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, but what's the point? Only another clever, outspoken Democrat could hope to oust him from his Republican-proof seat. Maybe he even annoyed Pogemiller by making it impossible to pass a larger, broader tax with the smaller tax on the table. He might have done us a favor.
No, my full wrath is reserved for my Legislators if and when I find that they voted for the final bill. Opat and Hennepin County did not have the authority to impose the tax, not without a referendum. By yanking the ballots out of our hands, they take the full blame.
Nothing compelled the Legislature to act. The process was working. Hennepin County passed it, with the normal expectation of a referendum to accept it. The Legislature, by acting, by preempting democracy, should be made to pay for whatever it is they lacked on this issue - courage, integrity, or common sense.