FRONT PAGE
Soft Money Buys State Shutdown
Minnesota: Where $100,000 of soft money in every
legislator’s election buys us the worst government.
Minnesota now has
the worst elected government in the United States. Extremist
officials on both the left and the right are so opportunistic
that they would rather hurt Minnesotans than get along in
order to get their job done. For years, these extremists have
been gradually taking over Minnesota’s two entrenched
parties, and no longer represent the values of everyday
Minnesotans. What keeps these extremists in office? The
special interest money used in elections.
A
recent study by
David Schultz of Hamline University showed that nearly
$100,000 was spent in each legislative district election-
much of it soft money that is not accountable by the
campaign. Incumbent legislators know that they better not
upset any of the special interests doling out this money in
each race or they will be targeted. What legislators do
instead is produce extreme and divisive rhetoric, extreme and
divisive policy, as well as extreme and divisive politics.
Legislative leaders and the Governor egg them on.
We have now seen
the end result - a crowd of legislative leaders that make
feel good speeches designed to make Minnesotans think that
leaders actually put the state before their political party.
The image of politics has never been further from reality. We
have a Governor and legislative leaders who all put on a good
smile and sing a good tune while doing exactly the opposite.
Minnesota is finally at the point where there are no tricks
left to play. It is long past time to get serious.
We have two
alternative solutions:
1. Finish the
Ventura Administration tax reform by extending the sales tax.
Back then, opportunistic, legislative leaders accepted
property tax cuts without doing their homework on the needed
offsetting tax increases that the Ventura Administration
asked for. Ironically, even back then, DFL and Republican
leaders, including then Representative Pawlenty, refused to
play fair. Now we have local property taxes shooting through
the roof, while our current crop of leaders blame each other.
Get the job done!
2. Implement
Senator Kiscaden’s one-dollar-a-pack cigarette tax.
Ironically, the no nonsense proposal made by Senator Kiscaden
is what the Governor and legislature are now leaning towards.
Get it done and stop wasting Minnesota’s time. Remember
DFLers and Republicans - you have got to pay for what you
spend!
Most Minnesotans
know their legislator at a local level. Many of these elected
leaders are good people and are able to keep a good face as
they shake their neighbors hands. The truth is, however, that
like a young child who associates with the wrong crowd, this
group starts to act goofy and destructive when exposed to
“political professionals” like the cynical legislative
leadership and the Governor.
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