By the time you read this, the 2005 legislative process may have put a budget package together, adjourned and the doom and gloom predicted will be over . . . for the moment. But if it is over, this is certainly not the end of the story. If it is not over, the lessons learned here need some serious study and reaction. The people in this state deserve much more, and the time is now to react to the legislative foolishness witnessed for the past two years.
What is happening to our country today? This weekend, we celebrate the independence of the United States, we pause with pride as we watch the American flag pass by, and we reflect on the freedoms we enjoy as the greatest nation on Earth.
And yet, something has gone astray. We are at turmoil with ourselves. Our distrust in government seems to have escalated to an increasingly dangerous level. Instead of retrenching, regrouping and moving on, we continue to expect more from government, but expect to pay less. Our societal values are clouded, and we are really at war with ourselves --while the world is watching.
This topic is the subject of future review, but it does point somewhat to our local challenges enacting a state budget that is sound, reasonable and reflective of our needs in a changing world.
Let's get back to the subject at hand. If a lesson is to be learned from the impasse reflected in this current session of the Minnesota Legislature, it is certainly pointed at a need for change. The process is totally flawed by politics, manipulation and special interest strategies. Most observers will tell you the state of Minnesota is best known for its clean political posture and its responsiveness to its citizens. I don't think this has really changed all that much through the years.
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There is nothing wrong with the competitive spirit of one political persuasion vs. another. That's the principle of government our founding fathers viewed as essential to freedom. It is a healthy balance of views and has worked well as our democratic process of government has endeued for over 200 years.
Here in Minnesota, as is the case in many other states in the Union, we seem to have forgotten the basic requirements of governmental organization, prioritizing legislative concerns and conducting business with the needs of our constituents held as our number one priority. For a number of self-serving reasons, our legislative agenda has been twisted and bent to damage rather than enhance the process of open debate and fairness as priority legislative needs are addressed.
Look at the past two years. In 2004, the Legislature had really one major issue, addressing bonding issues and providing the funding. Even-numbered year sessions are supposed to address those needs. If time permitted, following the acceptance of bonding requirements, cleaning up the language of existing laws and eliminating obsolete laws was the main mission of legislators. What happened in 2004? Not much. The primary mission, infrastructure needs, was not completed and that workload was held over for the 2005 session.
In January, a budget and the means to fund that budget was the number one mission. Well, it didn't happen, and the Legislature, in special session, threw rocks instead of working together to take care of responsible basic needs. And that's where we are as we reflect this weekend on the wonders of a free society with liberty and justice for all.
We need, of course, to re-prioritize our legislative process, define our goals and the roles we play. Legislators need to spend more time with local government entities rather than sleeping on the floor in the Capitol waiting for legislative leadership to get their acts together.
Yes, it is time for a legislative overhaul.
Dick Palmer is the former editor and publisher of the Budgeteer News. He may be reached by telephone at 729-6470 or by
e-mail at rpalmer@duluth.com .
