Pawlenty unallotment proposal brings out boobirds
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's state budget unallotment proposal today (Tuesday, June
16) prompted criticism from potential DFL gubernatorial candidates.
While House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis,
spoke of the governor inflicting great damage in a single day, Ramsey
County Attorney Susan Gaertner was equally sharp.
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's state budget unallotment proposal today (Tuesday, June
16) prompted criticism from potential DFL gubernatorial candidates.
While House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis,
spoke of the governor inflicting great damage in a single day, Ramsey
County Attorney Susan Gaertner was equally sharp.
"For anyone to call the governor's action 'strong leadership' would
belie the essential meaning of good government and principled service
to its constituents,? she said.
House Health Care and Human Services Policy Committee Chairman Paul
Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, another DFL gubernatorial hopeful, also spoke
out.
"Of course, the Governor's cuts today are not surprising. They are
simply the ultimate example of his values: Do everything as cheaply
and quickly as possible and never look back at the consequences,? he
said.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who often appears on lists potential
DFL gubernatorial candidates, was waiting outside the Governor's Office
immediately after Pawlenty's press conference.
"The governor has offered no plan for putting people to work, only
for cutting jobs during a tough economy, and has offered no strategy
for fixing a broken state budget that continues to lurch from deficit
to deficit,? said Rybak in a statement.
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy
Committee Chairman Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, also seen as a potential
gubernatorial candidate, attacked Pawlenty on higher education funding.
"When the Governor said his $100 million unallotment to higher
education will only cut 3.6% from the University and MnSCU, he didn't
include the $40 million he cut with his prior unallotments and the $60
million cut he signed into law this session,? said Rukavina.
"The true impact will be significantly higher, eliminating needed tuition relief for struggling Minnesota students.
Some people call that dishonest, I call it lying through your teeth,? he said.
