Comments on: Gov. Pawlenty rules out special legislative session

By: gbear

gbear — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:57:54 +0000

Question: Imagine that a couple of republican legislator’s get upset at Pawlenty usurping their role in state government and vote with the democrats to override the budget veto. Is Tpaw still free to use the ‘unalottment’ process to shred the budget or does the override take it out of his (and Grover Nordquist’s) hands?

If I was a republican lawmaker, I’d be incredibly pissed at Pawlenty for blowing off the entire lawmaking process. He’s making chumps of the house, the senate and all the voters who cast three votes when they voted for state representation.

But then, Tim has never ever played well with others…

By: pickwick

pickwick — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:43:50 +0000

Pawlenty refuses to meet with legislators on the issues for three months, apparently does not read legislation as it is worked on and comment on it (the way a responsible governor would do), and it’s the fault of the DFL? OK, Timmy, you go right ahead and unallot even more funding. Let me ask you just one question: Can you spell “R-E-C-A-L-L”?

By: T-Paw Is A Jerk

T-Paw Is A Jerk — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:47:38 +0000

Dearest T-Paw,

You callous jacka$$. My home will be lost and my 9 children will be without health care or food or a car or anything. When we die in the street, will you attend our funerals?

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:55:50 +0000

The “unallotment” process is essentially under the control of a single individual, in spite of the fact that an entire elected body produced the legislation. The line item veto involves more responsibility to all Minnesotans than our current Governor can comprehend – to him, it’s just another shot at his favorite targets – the poor, the disabled, the elderly, the uninsured.

Both of these powers, the line item veto and the “unallotment” process, seemed to be fine ideas in their day of adoption, and arguments for them are persuasive. Yet the way they were designed has led to their use to promote purely partisan political interests, and defeat our alleged “democracy” in the bargain. We should modify these so they are no longer a plaything for this abusive Governor, nor any other future Governor.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:06:25 +0000

Well, I guess that means Tim is now completely responsible for any fallout from those cuts. Sounds about right. Will the Minnesota press (other than independent sources like this one) hold him responsible? Sadly, no. It would sure be nice to have a governor who’s a grown up and realizes that one has to actually pay for a first world lifestyle.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:55:41 +0000

Same old, same old. Big Tim has never had a new idea unless it related to whacking a perceived opponent. He is a petty man with many axes to grind. When it comes to ideas for moving the state forward, he produces nothing.