Thissen: Dayton shutdown proposal ‘an act of true statesmanship’

I do wish that Dayton had been able to get a tax raised deal out of the Republicans and regret that we have not accomplished that goal. Millions of middle class and lower income Minnesotan’s continue to lose while millionaires do remarkably well.

Given the position he and the State of Minnesota are in, I do think Dayton is making the best decision he can make under these difficult circumstances. I also do not believe this is any indication of his weakness as a Governor, by which Republicans will get more. I think this is just the unfortunate dilemma he is in with a GOP majority legislature that is interested in protecting millionaires than doing what is best for all Minnesotans.

I would also suggest that if we have to elect a whole new Legislature in 2012 due to redistricting, that progressives and DFLer’s make very good use of that opportunity to deliver him a DFL majority so he can actually get the things we want done.

Those are my thoughts.

Will Repubilcans agree to a binding bill (first job creation they’ll have tried), no 15% cut in employees, dropping policy provisions, and more spending than they said was the maximum? Or is taking away rights of people they don’t like more important than ending the shutdown?

Governor Dayton, please don’t do this! You’ve already offered several compromises. Now it is time for the Republican senators and representatives to weigh in and respond to your proposals at some middle ground. If you succumb now, we will all pay too great a price for too long a time. The money has to come from somewhere. If we don’t increase income taxes on those most able to pay it, we will have to add property taxes around the state or see our state services decline in ways that will hurt all of us.

The republicans haven’t offered any new ideas because they don’t have any. These are the marching orders they’ve received from ALEC and they won’t deviate – why should they? They have no concern for the people or the state of Minnesota. They are killing us. We can only hope that Minnesotans do not forget this – people like zeller, koch, parry – these people are the enemy.

Disappointed, but agree with Thissen.

The Governor has acted honorably throughout this. He deserves our support. If you have an ax that needs grinding, contact your local Republican Representative.

Okay. The Republicans are raping us, so we may as well enjoy it? Huh? I have to assume that Thissen has an ironic streak going. Dayton gave the Republicans what they wanted, minus a few of their pet concerns. Not to worry–they’ll be back with those issues, and our governor has already shown that his reputation for instability is not without any basis.

Also disappointed. But I cannot agree with Rep. Thissen.

In this day of hyper-partisanship and mass media buys funded by outside shadow groups, engaging in “statesmanship” does not mean squat. By November 2012, only the most committed voters will remember what happened here today.

I guess I can only hope that the Rs in the legislature balk at some of the provisions in the framework.

Way to go Dems, way to bring a blowup hammer to a gunfight.

Hans and Mike, while I share your disappointment, I’m still looking to you and other critics of Dayton’s decision to provide a better, *realistic* alternative. Personally, I believe that Dayton has done everything possible to protect our flank. He’s vetoed everything he can veto. In the face of a legislature that is willing to destroy the State, what did you expect him to do? And Hans, I really can”t believe that you’re buying into this Dayton “instability” meme. Get a grip, buddy.

Dog, to me part of the problem here is that while Dayton constantly moved, the Rs did not. Indeed, he offered a number of “realistic” alternatives, and Koch/Zellers did not budge. In the end, call it caving, capitulating or whatever, the majority in the legislature got what they wanted. And what did we get? Not a whole lot. Just my honest assessment.

@ Mike, I don’t disagree with your assessment (except for your characterization of Dayton’s decision); I would just like to know what you, or anyone else in Dayton’s position, could have done to create a better outcome. We didn’t get what we wanted, and I don’t believe that there was any scenario where we would have. If you have other ideas, I’d truly like to hear them.

[...] that Dayton is overwhelming getting credit for the end of the shutdown; DFL leaders are trying to spin the agreement in their favor, but Democrats might be the most unhappy with the tentative lose-lose budget [...]

A pattern emerges. Ideologically hidebound conservatives begin to pull us all over a cliff. Sensible Democrats rush in to avert disaster. Conservatives tell us that that if they had been able to do what they wanted, then it would be all better. Democrats counter that they saved us from certain calamity, trying to prove a negative. What would be so terribly wrong with letting them privatize Medicare, for example. How else are people going to realize that the guys behind the disaster are idiots? A short-term loss and a long-term gain?