For some reason, it looks like the voters are playing the role of Charlie Brown & a football with DFLers starring as Lucy. While the last election has DFLers pounding away at issues like high tuition, increasing fees, cost of health care, education (All Day K) and property taxes, you'd never see that looking at the first month of session.
So far, All Day K got dumped under the buswheels by the DFL last week due to cost; the DFL is introducing numerous bills to increase various fees; they've basically rejected Republican overtures to freeze college tuition and the new Property Tax Committee has yet to process one bill.
That Committee is in good company as numerous other committees are yet to produce any legislation as well.
Looking at the legislation churning about, you'd think that the last election was a referendum on electing the Minnesota State Nanny. We've seen the primary seat belt bill moving, smoking bans hurtling toward passage and now a bill by Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview) which makes criminals of anyone possessing a glass container on a Minnesota lake or beach introduced.
It'd be interesting to hear the jailhouse talk after the DFL is done with the next two sessions:
Inmate 1: "I'm in for dealing drugs and beating up people. What are you in for?"
Inmate 2: "Having a bottle of ketchup with my six pack of Root Beer on my boat."
Inmate 3: "I'm a bar owner who smoked a cigarette in my own business."
Jailer: "Wow, the new DFL majority has sure been good for business..."
It's sad that some of these bills are introduced, much less having a chance to pass. My friends who are interested in civil liberties can't wait for the legislative session to adjourn.
At the same time, Republicans have offered a host of positive solutions from our tuition freeze to property tax reforms and reductions and more.
Soon, we'll be unveiling some ideas on which to save the taxpayers money in the budget process. This will be for everyone's consideration: DFLers, the Governor, the public and anyone willing to listen. We are firm in the belief that there is waste and efficiencies in a $32 billion to $34 billion budget.
At this point in session, Minnesota citizens are in a Catch-22. The DFL isn't doing much in the way of passing legislation, but many of the bills floating around are so bad, it's a blessing in disguise if they never see the light of day.
