Commentary; Posted: 1/10/07
Cooperative spirit should drive legislature
By Don Heinzman
Legislators are heeding the message of the last election, which was to get down to business immediately, pass most-needed legislation, finish on time and be civil.
The DFL party now dominates both houses and Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty is showing signs of being more of a leader and a statesman.
On the other hand, the voters did not mean for this session to be a love fest where important legislation is watered down in the interests of being best friends. Better laws come from vigorous debate and compromise on what's best for all of the people of Minnesota.
While the majority leadership positions are held by two Minneapolis legislators, the new voting power in this Legislature rests with outstate and particularly the suburban legislators, who are stronger than ever.
The DFL dominance in the Minnesota House of Representatives is due in part to the defeat of conservative Republican legislators in the suburban districts during the last two general elections.
While conservatives held their seats in the northern tier of communities, five were defeated in southern Dakota County.
Suburban legislators hold some key committee chairs, but not enough. Rep. Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington chairs the powerful House Tax Committee. Rep. Mindy Greiling of Roseville chairs the important House K-12 Education Committee, Lyn Carlson of Crystal heads the House Finance Committee and Debra Hillstrom of Brooklyn Center chairs the Local Government and Metro Affairs Committee.
In the Minnesota Senate, more suburban committee chairs are warranted. Sen. Chuck Wiger of North St. Paul chairs the Education Committee, John Marty of Roseville chairs the Health Housing and Family Security Committee and Sen. Don Betzold of Fridley heads the State Government Budget Committee.
Voters made clear their agenda for the upcoming session: property tax relief, health care affordability and access, education funding for pre-school through higher education and better transit and highways.
Outstate and suburban voters have been hit hard by property tax increases, and people on fixed incomes whose homes have reached higher values because of market forces are looking for some relief.
That relief could come in the form of more funding for schools and cities, but those increases could be consumed at the local level without providing much-needed state funding.
This session will be different from the previous two, because the Legislature has a surplus of some $2 billion, which some economists dispute, because a billion dollars is one-time money and the other billion hardly covers the cost of inflation.
With that in mind, there may not be much "extra" money for legislators to fund needed programs, particularly property tax relief, education, health care and transportation.
The rubber will meet the road when Republican and DFL forces clash over priorities for spending the dollars and for the need to raise some state taxes.
Voters are in a conservative mindset and believe the state should live within its means, and spend the additional revenue without raising state taxes.
That will be a tough balancing act for two parties, which must share power to get something accomplished. This will be the toughest part of the Legislative process and will test the positive and compromising spirit that pervades the halls of the Legislature.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605