Pawlenty challenges Minnesota to lead rather than "get dragged"

On Tuesday, Governor Tim Pawlenty simultaneously stood up for meaningful education reforms and tried to position the state to win second-round federal Race to the Top education reform dollars.

"The only question in this room is going to be 'Do you want to get dragged there, or do you want to lead to that point?'" said Pawlenty. "I suggest we lead because this is going to happen. It will happen some time in the next 3-10 years."

Sometimes politics makes for truly odd bedfellows. The Pawlenty administration and education reform advocates are finding themselves supporting some of the significant aspects of the Obama administration's Race to the Top initiative, while many Democrats and the teachers unions, strong supporters of candidate Obama in 2008, oppose them, including:

• Alternative teacher licensure - allowing non-traditional candidates like mid-career professionals alternative paths becoming licensed teachers
• Pay for performance - linking teacher pay to student performance, even more than Minnesota's current, optional Q Comp program

Conservatives generally and the Pawlenty administration in particular have been advocating for these types of reforms since at least the late 1990s. From the nation's first charter school laws to replacing the process-oriented Profile of Learning with knowledge-based academic standards, to Q Comp, Minnesota has often led the way in education reform, rather than let itself be dragged by Washington, D.C. educrats to improving its public school system.

There is no reason for Minnesota to wait for yet another federal subsidy before implementing more nation- and world-leading education reforms. According to the U.S. and state constitutions, education is a function of the various states, not the federal government. With the right leadership, Minnesota can close the achievement gap, lower costs, and put more control of the schools in the hands of local school boards and parents. That would be change we could all believe in.

Pawlenty to DFL: chores before allowance

Once again, Gov. Tim Pawlenty is being forced to play the adult in the room to the Minnesota Legislature's adolescent refusal to face fiscal realities.

In his letter Monday, Gov. Pawlenty told the Legislature to do what they already know the state Constitution mandates must be done: balance the budget.

Prior to this evening's debate on the Capitol Investment bill, I wanted to inform you, and the entire legislature, that I will be vetoing this bill in its entirety.

The people of Minnesota expect us to spend their tax dollars frugally and wisely. This bill does neither...

As you know, the state is facing a $1.2 billion deficit. Before the legislature passes any additional spending bills, I ask that DFL legislators submit a plan to resolve the budget deficit. My budget plan has been available for more than a week, but during that time the DFL majority has only shown an interest in spending more money, not in balancing the budget.

With Moody's recently lowering the state of Minnesota's debt rating, the DFL needs to get serious about getting the state's fiscal house in order, or risk paying higher interest rates on its bonds, not to mention passing on higher debts to the taxpayers. It's no different in the people's house than in your house: more money going out than coming in is an unsustainable, an unnecessary, situation.

Once again, with Republicans in the minority, Gov. Pawlenty is the last man standing in the way of the DFL spending more money we don't have on things we don't need. Later this year, Minnesotans must elect another governor who is prepared to do the same, regardless of which party holds the majorities in Saint Paul.

No shutdown, no special session, no new taxes

Governor Pawlenty, after inaction by the DFL Legislature to close the state's $6.4 billion budget deficit, which they are required to do by law, took bold action yesterday to declare that there will be no government shutdown, no special session, and no new taxes. The 2009 Legislative session will adjourn on Monday at midnight.

The DFL was caught flatfooted by the announcement. Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis) appeared visibly shaken during the DFL response to the governor's announcement. A special session was apparently a part of their strategy all along, otherwise why send bills with tax increases to the governor in spite of his promise to veto any and all tax increases?

With DFL majorities in the Senate and House, the governor is the only man standing between the people and the DFL's massive, job-killing, family budget-busting tax increases for all Minnesotans. Pawlenty has the power of the line item veto and unallotment to protect the taxpayer, and he plans to use it if necessary. Bully for him. Stand strong, Governor Pawlenty, for government that lives within its means.

Tax and bonding bills reach conference committees

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet
Taxman!
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman
—"Taxman" by George Harrison

As reported by Dan McGrath of Minnesota Majority, the Minnesota House and Senate omnibus tax bills are overflowing with tax increases (i.e., veto bait) for all Minnesotans, not just "the rich:"

[WARNING: The following explicit tax increases may offend some fiscal moderates and conservatives. Reader discretion is advised.]

The Senate plan (SF2074) calls for across the board income tax increases and a new top tax bracket of 9.25% to collect $2 billion in new revenues. The House plan (HF2323) is a patchwork of tax hikes on income, tobacco, alcohol, recreational vehicles, and even includes a tax on homeowners who have higher energy (natural gas) use during winter months...

The House bill also eliminates some pretty substantial tax deductions, like the mortgage interest deduction and education tax credits. A slew of other changes remove subtractions from federal taxable income and throw in some additions, like motor vehicle and property taxes paid, and some charitable contributions. All of this has the effect of inflating the amount of personal income that the state will compute taxes on. The House tax bill also establishes a new top tax rate of 9% on income over $169,000 (or $300,000 for married couples filing a joint return).

And don't forget Rep. Jim Davnie's (DFL-Minneapolis) proposal to tax purchases from online stores like iTunes and Amazon.com. Governor Pawlenty promises to veto all of these tax increases should they reach his desk.

Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth) has her eye on the "emergency" bonding bill, also in conference committee. The Legislature typically passes an omnibus bonding bill in odd-numbered years only for structures in dire need of repair. Apparently, our DFL-controlled legislature is not about to let a good crisis go to waste, because Anderson reports that the bonding bill could exceed the customary limit of 3% of non-dedicated general fund revenues.

Why does this matter? If borrowing exceeds the three percent cap, the interest rate we pay on bonds will increase. "Consequently," said Anderson in an e-mail to constituents, "we will pay more for the bonds at a time when [the state is] $6.4 billion in hole. In addition, school districts will pay more for bonds for their building projects since their bond rating is tied to the state bond rating." Can you say, "property tax increase?"

It's time to send a message to the Legislature that a recession with high unemployment is the time to cut spending, not raise taxes. Stop by the Tax Cut Rally at the State Capitol grounds this Saturday, 11 am - 4 pm, and make sure the Legislature gets the message loud and clear. When he makes his appearance at the annual rally around 1:00 pm, you'll also have a chance to encourage Gov. Pawlenty to ink-up his veto pen and say, "Go ahead, make my day!"

Pawlenty to GOP: look in the mirror

We may not always agree with our governor, but he sure tells some of the best self-deprecating jokes in politics — the best of which feature his wife Mary:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who was very nearly Senator John McCain’s running mate this year, told the decidedly subdued, post-election conference Wednesday about a revelation he had recently while looking into the bathroom mirror at his home in Minnesota.

Mr. Pawlenty said that after wearily returning from the campaign trail, he looked at himself in the mirror and complained about what he saw to his wife, Mary. "I said, ‘Mary, look at me,’" he said. "‘I mean, my hairline’s receding, these crow’s feet and wrinkles are multiplying on my face by the day, I’ve been on the road eating junk food, I’m getting flabby, these love handles are flopping over the side of my belt.’

"I said, ‘Is there anything you can tell me that would give me some hope, some optimism, some encouragement?’" he said. "And she looked at me and she said, ‘Well, there’s nothing wrong with your eyesight.’"

As his fellow governors laughed, he came to the moral of the story: "If we are going to successfully travel the road to improvement, as Republicans, we need to see clearly, and we need to speak to each other candidly about the state of our party."