Sane Behavior at the MN House

05/12/2005

Paul Munnis

As MN House Democrats and Moderate Republicans joined forces in a bi-partisan manner to address state transportation needs today there was evidence of Representatives doing their job and representing the needs of their Districts rather than just supporting Party initiatives.

In a break with the traditional form of Party first and People second, these lawmakers turned the equation on its head and put the representation of their Districts and meeting their District needs first and as their highest priority.

Never mind that Pawlenty wants “No New Taxes,” never mind that they broke Party ranks and crossed the aisle to agree on meeting the needs of the people of our state.

These Representatives went to St. Paul and they did the job that they were elected to do and they deserve the thanks of the public. We tip our hat to them.

There is some complaint over higher gas taxes. (We just published an editorial against them). There is some complaint over the bulk of the money going to the Twin Cities and we accept that that is where the bulk of our citizens live (74%). Never mind that Pawlenty threatens to veto the legislation—that is his problem. Never mind that Steve Sviggum is unhappy—that’s not something that is important to our state. Never mind that the GOP leaders are in a state of shock—they have been paralyzing our State for years now.

What matters is that Minnesota has returned to the high ground of putting the needs of its people ahead of the ideology of its political Parties. That is what representative government is all about. This is the first time in many years that I have felt represented in St. Paul.

We welcome home our Representatives to a sane and legitimate future in a State that has returned to its senses. May 28th and the close of this legislative session is coming up real fast. There are some sleepless nights ahead between now and then but we sense a return to sanity and we pray that it continues.

In case people do not get it. This means: jobs, jobs, jobs, and we Minnesotans need them badly.

We hope that Washington comes to its senses too. The public is sick of the heavy partisan politics at the expense of the good of the Country. We are sick of being split and divided by Party hacks. We are a UNITED people through necessity and by choice.