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The DFL is pushing a line regarding Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s promise to cut state spending via unallotment that gripes about Pawlenty’s process more than it highlights possible negative outcomes for citizens. A leaked talking-points memo (pdf) goes light on unallotment’s potential effects on healthcare, public safety and taxes, and heavy on the unilateral nature of the governor exercising his authority.
The one-page document, which Democratic blogger and speechwriter Brian Falldin says was leaked to him anonymously, contains nine bullet points — only three of which mention how cuts via unallotment might hurt average Minnesotans’ pocketbooks or well-being.
Receiving much more attention are political and procedural complaints about unallotment: It is a “go-it-alone strategy … that’s not democracy.”
Some of the Governor’s decisions seem to be designed for what is best for the Iowa presidential caucuses rather than what is best for Minnesota.
The DFL’s process-oriented approach comes two weeks after the party overstated potential practical effects of Pawlenty’s healthcare cuts.
In a press release issued days before the state Legislative adjourned, the party claimed that the governor’s line-item veto of General Assistance Medical Care (GMAC) could lead Regions Hospital closing its doors.
A Regions spokesman told the Minnesota Independent that the loss of GMAC would have serious but not fatal impact on the hospital.
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Comment posted June 1, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
My first reaction is the DFL is right to focus on process. The process is the real issue, not the specific cuts. People who think the cuts won’t affect them and so won’t care of those might care about the abuse of power if reminded that a DFL governor could blow off the legislative process in the same way. Though people might like Pawlenty’s priorities, will they agree with the hypothetical DFL governor’s use of unallotment? You can’t hand over power to the executive just because you approve of what the current executive plans to do.
Pingback posted June 2, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
[...] frees Pawlenty from political considerations during the next three months. The DFL had prepared an extensive “talking points” list to fight his efforts to balance the budget through unallotment after the DFL-controlled legislature [...]
Comment posted June 18, 2009 @ 11:25 am
Remember way back when, in 2007, when the state had a whopping $2.2 billion budget surplus? That money was spent growing government, including per diem pay raises for legislators as well as paying for year-round housing despite the fact that the legislature meets for only part of each Remember way back when, in 2007, when the state had a whopping $2.2 billion budget surplus? That money was spent growing government, including per diem pay raises for legislators as well as paying for year-round housing despite the fact that the legislature meets for only part of each year
And you can bet that the deniers will talk about the “cuts” of 2003 and further claim that Minnesota’s quality of life isn’t what it used to be because the state doesn’t spend enough money. Check the facts. Over the past five budget cycles, state spending has grown by the following amounts:
2000-2001: 13%
2002-2003: 15.4%
2004-2005: 7.3%
2006-2007: 8.4%
2008-2009: 13.6%
Where are those “cuts” again?
Comment posted July 30, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
This looks like an article from some right wing rag like the STrib or the PiPress.
Of course they looked at the process. That doesn’t mean they did not look at the cuts that were done also.
T-Paw’s only motivation here is to upgrade his image for the 2012 Presidential race. The cuts to our programs and services were never in his mind. He is the problem, not the DFL and their strategy for helping us out of the mess that T-Paw put us into.
As for the Region’s comments, who are you going to believe? Our DFL party who does not have an axe to grind? Or some fat cat from a billion dollar business that takes in our tax dollars, and then profits off of our being sick & hopeless?
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