Commentary; Posted: 4/27/05
Legislature needs more like Rep. Dan Dorman
By Don Heinzman
There should be more Dan Dormans in the Minnesota Legislature, because citizens expect their legislators to make decisions on whatís best for the whole of the state, not what will please their political party.
In growing suburban communities, funding education to avoid serious budget cutting and fixing a broken transportation system are high priorities. If a tax increase, fees or whatever you call getting more funding, is needed, so be it.
Dorman is a Republican Party legislator from Albert Lea, who is a moderate on a mission to do whatís best for the people of this state.
He has clout because in the House the margin is so close, 68 Republicans and 66 DFLers. If he chooses and can bring a couple of other Republicans or Democrats with him, together they can control the vote on key issues in the House.
Behind the scenes, Republican leaders are chastising him for daring to think on his own and not for whatís best for the party. District 53A Rep. Phil Krinkie went so far as to call Dorman a ìtraitorî to his fellow Republicans.
Another legislator, Sen. Mark Ourada, a Republican who bravely voted for the Senate Transportation bill sponsored by a DFLer, told a reporter he should be able to vote for a commuter-friendly transportation bill without having his party loyalty questioned.
Many of the legislators in the suburban area are like sheep, following the leader so they can stay in the partyís good graces and get its help to be reelected to another term.
There are serious issues that require some Dorman-type votes. Better school funding in growing school districts is essential.
Even with the promised aid, school districts in suburbs are having to lay off teachers, cut extra curricular activities, increase fees, cut out foreign language programs, make more students walk and pay higher school lunch programs.
In some districts art and music programs in the lower grades are being scuttled. At North Branch, cheerleading, marching band and foreign language in middle school are on the chopping block.
Any legislator from the suburban area who sits in traffic jams knows long-term solutions are needed to combat traffic congestion. These will require better funding than long-term bonding.
A gas tax increase is needed and will be accepted as a necessity in the metro area where cars are added to the highways every year.
Health care is a big expense to everyone. A rocket scientist isnít needed to figure out how to vote to protect the vulnerable from going broke trying to pay medical bills.
Conservative Republicans are adamant that less should be spent on human services, because compared to other states, Minnesota spends more. Meanwhile, there are more homeless, more working poor, more two-income families going to food shelves.
Encourage legislators to vote first on whatís best for the peopleís needs for the next two years. Tell them this is what you expect from them and thatís how youíll judge them in the next election.
Stress that these are neither Republican nor DFL issues. These are Minnesota issues and that they should think more like Dan Dorman who has decided he needs to be true to his convictions rather than just toe the line of his partyís agenda.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
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