Commentary; Posted: 4/4/07
Pawlenty is the DFL’s best friend
T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is the best friend Democrats have.
No other single person will do more to ensure that DFLers maintain healthy majorities in the House and Senate than the Republican governor.
Indeed, if the Iraq War again nationalizes the election, Pawlenty, by not allowing Democrats to conform to the notion of unapologetic tax and spenders, may help them increase their strength in the House.
Things could go the other way.
Consider: Rep. Paul Gardner, DFL-Shoreview, defeated former Rep. Phil Krinkie by about 50 votes. Krinkie is a fully feathered budget hawk.
How would Gardner fare if Democrats passed an income tax increase, a gas tax hike, a tab fee increase, business property tax increase — hundreds of millions in tax increases same year as regaining control of the Legislature?
Shoreview voters might be a little less welcoming at the door. And Gardner’s slim win was by no means unique last election.
Other Democrats came out of tight races.
Rep. Ken Tschumper, DFL-LaCrescent, won office by a vote total that if recited would provide a pretty standard game of hide and seek.
The future is uncertain.
The housing market is weak and in the Middle East, Iran has been so emboldened by the Iraq War as to kidnap British marines and sailors from under the noses of the Allies.
What would it look like raising taxes if the economy sinks into recession or a regional war breaks out in the Middle East?
Pawlenty is so helpful.
He allows Democrats to purge their angst — to cater to their constituencies, to lavish legislation and dollars on them — to give free play to desires and ambitions left smouldering and pent in past years.
Let it all out. Double the number of committees. Vent.
Let loose a collective primal scream.
There’s still almost two months of the session left.
Nothing but time has been lost. Things can start anew.
And really there’s no other options.
Republicans likely will be able to sustain Pawlenty’s anticipated tax increase vetoes, so Democrats can’t simply walk over the governor.
The threat of a special session, if whispered, seems empty — even silly.
About half the Legislature is now composed of freshman lawmakers and second-termers.
Those folk came to office on a “get-the-job-done” mantra.
Few things would probably gall them more than engaging in a loathsome special session when they so much want to return home, a little haggard, for sure, but on time.
And it’s not that something can’t yet be crafted.
Take transportation: the governor is not likely to budge on the issue of a gas tax increase.
Well, how about a local sales tax with a referendum and voter approval?
What’s wrong with that?
How about a wheelage tax that requires county board approval?
Other things can be crafted. It’s not too late.
In the meantime, DFLers (and some Republicans) can pursue their spending proposals and tax increases in the calm assurance their pal in the Governor’s Office has a restraining hand on the throttle and the roaring legislative engine will return to a comforting purr.
Like a good friend, Pawlenty probably doesn’t expect a “Thank You.”
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