The mission of mnpACT! is to build a progressive community based upon the
core values of respect, dignity and opportunity, by educating people about
progressive ideas, advocating for progressive issues, and electing
progressive candidates to local, state and federal offices.
In a year when a budget deficit would seem to have forced the Minnesota legislature to forego any increases in education funding, the legislature did the near impossible. They crafted a significant increase in funding without any tax increases.....and yet, this Governor is talking veto.
Maybe the Governor finds it a little embarrassing that this bill raids the surplus in his pet project, Q-Comp....a fund that allows districts to negotiate teacher salary increases based on merit. This bill does not kill Q-Comp, it merely shifts surplus money in the fund into direct per pupil payments.
Pawlenty is quite familiar with money shifting.... his methods of balancing the budget have centered on raiding the Health Care Access Fund surplus. But at least with the education bill, the money stays in education -- Pawlenty "steals" health care dollars for who knows what.
The Political Animal and Polinaut have been staying with budget negotiations througout the day and night.
Here is the interesting quote from Rachel Stassen-Berger:
Veterans around the Capitol said that although today was a tough day in negotiations an overall deal is still possible -- if all sides actually want a deal.
Do all sides want a deal?
I have my doubts....and I think the harbinger of doom is sitting in the Governor's mansion. Every step of the way something is changed in the language or the puzzle pieces.
Outwardly, the Governor continues to come to the table, but is it real? Or is this a public facade to cover his behind when everything ultimately breaks down.
Tomorrow is an important day -- everything has been cleared by the DFL leadership . . .
Alright, I am probably going to lose all of my DFL credentials (if I ever had any) and probably be chastised by the progressive community (I have been before), but I want to offer a contrarian critique of some current DFL legislation. (Note: These are my own views and not representative of anyone else).
1) Health Care Bill -- I hope the Governor vetos it. Egad, I can't believe I said that...but there it is. This bill is certainly well intentioned but it is just another patchwork quilt of a solution. It does nothing to reign in insurance company control -- it even expands it, really. It just doesn't get us anywhere. Sen. Linda Berglin is a health care policy expert and extremely well intentioned, but she is locked into this incremental approach to getting to Universal Care. We may get 40,000 more people into MinnesotaCare...maybe. But . . .
So now you're a delegate to the State Convention! What the heck happens there? mnpACT! can show you all the details at one of our upcoming training sessions:
2:00 pm - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 30: Shakopee Library, Shakopee, MN
Sunday, April 6: Heritage Library, Lakeville, MN
Sunday, April 20: Burnhaven Library, Burnsville, MN
