The Procrastination Session

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The annual haggling (or so it seems) at the state capitol over what to do about Minnesota's out-of-control budget deficit ended early Monday morning, with nobody too pleased over the outcome.

The state's three billion dollar shortfall was solved mainly by deferring two billion in school payments to 2012, and by rubber-stamping a billion dollar's worth of Governor Tim Pawlenty's budget cuts that he "unallotted", despite a state Supreme Court ruling that he went too far with it.

That simply means whoever is the next governor has a bigger budget mess to deal with, for which that person should write Pawlenty a thank-you note.

As much as this sounds like a compromise, it really wasn't.  Not with Pawlenty cracking the whip behind closed doors, getting his way over a tired (and timid) bunch of House and Senate leaders, so the Governor can claim that he tamed the budget deficit without a single new tax.  That'll play well on the presidential campaign trail, should he decide to try it.  He's also got some positive coverage in the national media, but as is usually the case, they're not as close to the situation as we are.

Since nothing was decided before the Legislative session was mandated to end Sunday night, the Governor tacked on a special session that lasted until noon Monday.  By then, both the House and Senate passed the budget bill and got the heck out of St. Paul.

With the budget being the main event this session, a lot of other things got pushed aside.  Such as a new Vikings stadium, an education bill and shifting economically challenged Minnesotans from a state health care program to Medicaid--unless Pawlenty or his successor decides by January 2011 to make the switch.

However, there was plenty of support for new laws to combat drunk driving.  Big whoop.  At this point, that's like being in favor of Mom, apple pie and cute puppies.

Both Republicans and the DFL need to face reality.  They need to find another way to fund vital programs without raising taxes or cutting back on services.  They need to stop saying no to things that would truly benefit Minnesotans just to score political points.  Most of all, they need to realize that there's no time like the present to get things done.