We didn't have any major explosions. Everyone thought we would.
— House Minority Leader Marty SeifertAt the end of the day everyone has to walk away from the table with something they care about. It can't be a winner-take-all philosophy.
— Revenue Commissioner Ward EinessIt's the end product that matters, and I think the end product is very good.
— Gov. Tim PawlentyIt was the most successful legislative session in the last decade.
— House Majority Leader Tony SertichThe most productive Legislature in a very, very long time.
— House Speaker Margaret Anderson KelliherAs history looks back on this session, it will look back very kindly. We did a lot of good things. We've got a lot of challenges ahead of us.
— Senate Minority Leader Dave SenjemWe're not there yet, Minnesota on universal access, we're not there yet, but we're on the path.
— Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller
Take it from whichever political slant you prefer, the participants in the last legislative session are putting a positive spin on their work. By and large, congratulations are deserved all around.
Our job, though, is to look at the end product from an economic policy and social justice standpoint. A couple points stand out.
- The budget solution is only temporary. The Legislature was not able to repeal a slowing economy, rising energy prices, growing unemployment and a health care system that is unaffordable for a growing number of Minnesotans. In the next biennium, the Governor and Legislature will still have to face the need to increase revenue. Cutting expenses sounds good until it gets down to specifics.
- We need long-term strategies, not short-term fixes. Because they are of such high value, the building blocks of prosperity — education, infrastructure and affordable health care — have become the objects of budgetary brinksmanship. Instead, we ought to to be developing long-term strategies to invest in the assets that fuel our economic growth and prosperity.
- Subsidies still need better scrutiny. JOBZ was a standoff, and the Mall of America expansion will be funded in part by exporting the costs through a tax on shoppers. Now, can anyone tell us what would've happened if there were no taxpayer subsidy of MOA parking? Were they going to relocate to South Dakota?
- Property tax caps are about state politics, not helping local governments manage their budgets. While mayors are being diplomatic, the associations that represent cities and counties tell it like it is. "We think that in this first year, it's bad," said Jim Mulder, who heads the Association of Minnesota Counties. "We're really concerned about the second and third year is that it could be horrendous."
— Charlie Quimby
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.