Capitol arm-twisting
February 21st, 2008 – 3:50 AM by Dennis J. McGrathToday’s story about the enticements, threats, rewards and punishment swirling around the transportion bill opens a window onto the way things really work at the State Capitol.
Reporters Mike Kaszuba and Mark Brunswick describe how the DFL majority uses its power to put the squeeze on a Republican legislator — by adding a road project in his district to the funding bill, making it harder for him to vote against the measure.
They also show how a GOP legislator who dares to have dinner with the House DFL leader gets fingered by a blogger and then pilloried by talk radio as a “traitor.”
Sure, the official actions to add or delete provisions to this bill will happen in public, but the types of arm-twisting described in this story are what will really decide the bill’s fate.
Here’s the story, for more insight into what’s going on.
What do you think about the behavior of both sides?
7 Responses to "Capitol arm-twisting"
I think that the governor should get the 7 county metro a referendum on the sales tax and support the gas tax. The governor could demand that the DFL find money from transit for roads if they can’t get the sales tax approved by referendum, like they’re supposed to.
By the way, I would vote no on the sales tax increase.
That would be compromise. The demand that the DFL de-prioritize some transit - i.e. rail expansion - is expensive, as the costs in that sector are getting more expensive all the time as China uses raw materials, but should be accepted to make up the lost funding.
It gives the appearance of a major victory to the GOP, securing the roads funding. It is much easier to convince people to go to the polls to oppose a tax increase than to support it. Therefore, it should also show the governor overcoming a major GOP objective, de-railing light rail, or at least it would look that was as we come to elections.
The governor can’t veto transportation bills until the 2008 election or he won’t have a sustainable veto between then and 2010 when his term expires (or while he’s running for re-election). I just can’t see it. He needs to show some leadership and broker a compromise. We need the transportation funding.
Justin,
Tim “Global Warming, Renewable Energy” Pawlenty might as well find a place to hide waiting for his VP slot if he doesn’t veto that DFL transpo garbage. They’ll never trim it enough.
They also show how a GOP legislator who dares to have dinner with the House DFL leader gets fingered by a blogger and then pilloried by talk radio as a “traitor.”
What a bizarre notion. Isn’t it the legislator’s job to legislate? Doesn’t legislation require working with feloow legislators? The parties are far too focused on themselves, in lieu of the people they purportedly represent.
Justin is absolutely correct that we need a major investment in rail transit now as the costs will only continue to rise with delays caused by Tim Pawlenty and anti-transit legislators.
The GOP wants a roads-only transportation system that robs Minnesotans of mobility choice as oil prices and external costs of driving continue to skyrocket. Even the Chamber of Commerce understands the importance of a multi-modal transportation system. Pawlenty’s record on transportation demonstrates that whatever he says on the subject should be ignored.
Why no mention of Pawlenty’s arm twisting? Do folks really think he isn’t threatening Republican legislators if they dare vote to override is wrong headed veto?
Yup, a Republican legislator just stood up on the floor and said that he received a threatening email from someone regarding the transportation bill.
It seems like the public is trying to get in on the arm twisting. As speaker Anderson-Kelliher said, I also hope his assistant alerts Capitol security and the state patrol so this person can be prosecuted.
by the time this region grows enough to make rail a feasible alternative to automobiles, whatever toy system built now will be completely outdated and useless. you guys are in love with an idea, face it.
i think the Chamber of Commerce promotes stuff like the St. Paul Winter Carnival too. another huge fiscal nightmare.
Results of the ‘arm-twisting’ can be seen here:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/votetracker/issue_view.php?id=100
By my count, 6 Republicans voted FOR the transportation bill, and 2 Democrats voted Against.
So it seems like it would be easier to get the DFLers to vote on the veto override than the members of the gov’s party.
Legislators are elected by the People, not the party. If the legislators are casting their votes according to the wishes of the People, then it seems to me that a legislator in the Minority party could be punished by their party not giving them financial backing in their re-election campaign. But if the legislator gets transportation improvements for their district, and the people recognize that they have to pay the price to get those roads and bridges built and maintained, then I think the legislator’s loss of party backing is minimized, especially because People are mostly tired of partisan bickering anyway.
Bloggers and Radio Ranters that think a legislator is a ‘traitor’ for dining with a member of the other party obviously want to fan the flames of conflict instead of promoting teamwork.
Roads and bridges are built for People, not parties, and when the bridges fall down, it’s not parties that die, but People.
Some legislators in rural areas recognize that roads and bridges are essential in getting farm produce to market since not all communities have rail lines.