Category: I-35 Bridge

by Dave Mindeman

How does Tim Pawlenty do it? How does he slowly strangle Minnesota's state infrastructure and, soon, its economy, while convincing the citizens that everything is just fine. How does he do that?

Somehow, the people of Minnesota have accepted a kind of disconnect. When they look at roads and bridges, they, at least intellectually, know they do not fix themselves. They know we don't have some kind of pixie dust available that magically reenforces girders or takes away the rusted rivets. The problem is not the people's ability to understand.... the problem is that they have a Governor who keeps giving them false choices.

Before the I-35 bridge fell, the legislature did its job.... on transportation at least. Twice, they passed solid bills with proper revenue sources and an adequate plan to meet our current needs. It still fell short of future investments but in the current environment, it was the right thing to do. But our Governor decided he was going to take a short term political gain rather than do what's right for the state. He could show his "hold down spending" bona fides by vetoing those bills and then add more political points by chastising the "big spenders" in the legislature.

His own plan was to borrow, borrow, and borrow some more. A take it or leave it credit card plan that pushed the responsibility for OUR roads and bridges onto OUR children. It has been a shameful exhibition of irresponsible fiscal mismanagement -- and we have little to show for it, except for a fallen bridge and more construction delays and more fiscal tricks to pay for it.

Still, the public gives Pawlenty higher than average approval ratings. Why? Because they want to believe his false promises. They want to think that we can fix it all without the huge influx of investment that is required. They want to think it is OK to postpone the pain with a pile of credit card debt. They want to believe their Governor knows what's best...especially if it is easier than dealing with reality.

But Governor Pawlenty is not doing us any favors. Oh, he can probably keep up this charade for a few more years. The revenue cycles take a couple of years to enter the fiscal budget process. He could probably stretch MnDOT's budget with more delays and road stress. He can hide it for awhile.... if he can pass off a collapsed bridge as some kind of anomaly, then he can keep the facade up for the rest of his term, if he wanted to.

He could do that, but the state will suffer.

Economic growth is slowing. The Housing market is in stress....Federal deficits are putting strain on the economy... the job market is fading. The state budget is dependent on constant growth because even though the Governor doesn't factor in inflation, it still exists. A slowing economy means reduced state revenue. That means the budgets we have cut to the bone will have to stretch even furthur.... and trying to increase state revenues via taxes in an economic slowdown will be even more difficult. And if our transportation system fails us, the economy has no chance to recover.

This coming fiscal session, the legislature needs to act.... with or without the Governor. Transportation issues desperately need a long term vision and plan. Since our Governor can't see past next Tuesday, it will be up the legislative body. Republicans and Democrats alike.

Your constituents will understand.... just don't make false promises. Level with the public... our Governor certainly won't.

Category: Iraq War

by Dave Mindeman

This is a copy of an MSNBC transcript (scroll down) from the "Tucker" talk show. David Shuster is guest hosting and has an interesting conversation with Rep. Marsh Blackburn of Tennessee. I think the words speak for themselves:

REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN ®, TENNESSEE: Good to be with you.

SHUSTER: Do you want to take this opportunity to condemn what Rush Limbaugh said about Chuck Hagel?

BLACKBURN: What I want to do is talk about the “New York Times.” Probably, Rush Limbaugh could have gotten by without saying that.

SHUSTER: Could of gotten by? It was wrong, wasn‘t it?

BLACKBURN: He was referencing what a caller said.

SHUSTER: But it was wrong for a caller or for Rush Limbaugh to call Chuck Hagel Senator Betray Us, right?

BLACKBURN: But Rush Limbaugh did not go in and buy an ad and place it with the “New York Times” and get a special, preferred rate—

SHUSTER: So there‘s a difference between buying an ad in the “New York Times” and Rush Limbaugh hearing something that he likes to hear from one of his viewers and repeating it on the air. What‘s the distinction?

BLACKBURN: Rush Limbaugh should not have done that. But Rush Limbaugh did not go out and buy an ad and circumvent the “New York Times.” It takes two weeks for them to tell the truth on this and we find out that they did get a favored rate.

SHUSTER: They didn‘t know they got a favored rate. As soon as they found out they got a favored rate, they wrote a check.

BLACKBURN: I don‘t believe that. I think they did—

SHUSTER: I understand that this is an issue that—You‘re very concerned, of course, about the MoveOn ad, is that right?

BLACKBURN: Everybody is concerned about the MoveOn ad. Everybody is concerned about what seems to be the violation of the public trust by the “New York Times.” Look, we all know that their circulation is down, that their stock is down, that they—I think it was last year fired 500 people. Everyone is aware of that. My goodness, to find out now that they are fire selling their ad space.

SHUSTER: Congressman, let‘s talk about the public trust. You represent, of course, a district in western Tennessee. What was the name of the last soldier from your district who was killed in Iraq?

BLACKBURN: The name of the last soldier killed in Iraq, from my district, I do not know.

SHUSTER: His name was Jeremy Bohannan (ph). He was killed August 9, 2007. How come you did not know that the name?

BLACKBURN: I do not know why I did not know the name. We made contact with the families in our district. When you have a major military post, you are very sensitive to this and sensitive to working with those families, and that is something that my staff and I do daily. Our district director is a gentleman who has served in the U.S. Army and currently serves in the National Guard. And we do everything that we possibly can do to assist those families. We are very appreciative of the sacrifice.

SHUSTER: But you were not appreciative enough to know the name of this young man. He was 18 years old and killed. Yet you can say chapter and verse about what‘s going on with the “New York Times” and MoveOn.org.

BLACKBURN: You‘re exactly right. I can say chapter and verse what was going on with MoveOn.org.

SHUSTER: Don‘t you understand the problems that a lot of people would have, that you‘re so focused on an ad. When was the last time a “New York Times” ad ever killed somebody? Yet here we have a war that took the life of an 18-year-old kid, Jeremy Bohannan, from your district and you didn‘t know his name?

BLACKBURN: Well—and—we work very closely, as I said, with those families. We work very closely with every one of our military members. We work closely with Ft. Campbell, because most of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, actually sits in Montgomery County, Tennessee. And that is a priority with us, how we work with them, how we reach out to those families, how we stay in touch with those that are being deployed, working with the leadership teams, making certain the community is involved with helping to care for those families.

SHUSTER: I know General Petraeus—

BLACKBURN: And our National Guard families as they are deployed, staying in close touch with those—some of those that have not only from our district, but from Tennessee.

SHUSTER: I know that after General Petraeus testified, you said that there has been an opportunity created for progress at the local level, local political progress. Have you been to Iraq recently?

BLACKBURN: I have been—not been to Iraq in the past 12 months. My last trip into Iraq—

SHUSTER: Just based on General Petraeus, that is how you can say that there was political progress being made in Iraq?

BLACKBURN: No, I stay in touch with those that are deployed. As a matter of fact, I e-mailed last night with a constituent of mine who is a chaplain in Iraq. And we have been working, getting some supplies, some items --

SHUSTER: What contact has the chaplain had with local Iraqi political leaders?

BLACKBURN: He is in touch with them on a regular basis. I e-mail with soldiers, different soldiers from my district who are deployed. I e-mail with their families and stay in close touch with them. I go and visit with their families and hear from them first hand what is going on. This is not just a once in a while, you go to Afghanistan or you go to Iraq or every once in a while you go to a military post to visit. What you do is stay in touch with them on a constant on-going basis.

SHUSTER: I agree, Congresswoman, do you stay in touch with these military families. But I again, I still think it‘s a little surprising that you did not know the name of the last soldier killed in Iraq, who is only 18 years old, and yet you know so much about the MoveOn.org ad and the tactics you don‘t like. But in any case, Congresswoman Blackburn, we appreciate you coming in today, Congresswoman from western Tennessee.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

A little hodge podge of politics for the week:

I-35 Bridge Construction Firm Has New Owner

Flatiron Construction, the firm that won the bid for the I-35 Bridge project, is under new ownership. The sale had been pending for awhile before the bidding process but the new owners had not been divulged. The sale is final now and it turns out to be a German firm named Hochtief. The sale price was $240 million.... or about the same price as the bridge contract. What is interesting about the history of Hochtief is that during the 30's, the management were Nazis and they were the contractors for Hitler's bunker, Wolf's Lair, and most of the German "Atlantic Wall" during WWII. No special comments.... just found it interesting.

Pawlenty Names Dr. Sanne Magnan As Health Commissioner

I can't say I am deeply impressed with this choice. She made a point to say she is pro-life and believes in life at conception. She also comes from a heavy insurance institution background. Her position at ICSI (Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement) is supposed to improve outcomes between clinics and the insurers; but the principle sponsors for ICSI are (surprise) Medica, Healthpartners, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield with the main associate sponsors of Met Health Plan, Preferred One, and UCare Minnesota. Who would you think they listen to more? I don't see any big policy changes forthcoming out of this department although there will probably be the appearance of more openness.

I-35 Bridge Shows MnDOT Leadership Problems

MnDot, on the whole, has a lot of very competent people. I have known or met a few of them and their knowledge has impressed me. However, if the leadership gives no direction, then the whole department suffers the consequences. Molnau is completely inept at this job and I hope the Minnesota Senate votes her down. The issues on transportation are just too important for Minnesota's economy. Since the bridge went down on August 1st, what exactly has been accomplished on the transportation front at the state level? The answer is nothing. We continue to look for revenue bandaids.... more projects are getting delayed.... and the promised Federal acceleration of funding has not happened. We didn't even get a controversy free bidding process. This is not MnDot staffing problems... this is a leadership problem. Pawlenty won't hold anyone accountable; the Senate will have to.

Presidential Politics

Hillary Clinton scored again when Tim Russert tried to trick her with that terrorist hypothetical. She has been impressive in the debate process.... something I thought might be a weakness for her. Barak Obama has had some problems but he still is close enough to make a run. Edwards taking of public financing is a clear indicator that fund raising has not gone well. The Hillary juggernaut is again in play.
Republicans still look kind of mushy. No clear leader.... everybody has flaws and problems. McCain is coming back but has a lot of ground to make up. Giuliani will ride 9/11 as far as he can, but social conservatives will bolt if he is the nominee. Romney has started to fade -- hard for long time conservatives to trust him and Mormon religion is a tough sell to evangelicals who aren't above religious bigotry. Thompson is kind of floating along -- the lazy label looks real. Seems to be looking to mop up after the mess. As I mentioned before, even with odds overwhelmingly against it, this GOP convention could become a 4 way split and end up as the first brokered convention in decades.

More later....