Alternatives - The Strib asks

Alternatives - The Strib asks the unanswerable question: "When will the DFL actually come up with a budget plan of its own?"

And as expected, Speaker Steve Sviggum made much of the fact that his caucus has declared its fiscal intentions, while the DFLers in charge of the Senate have not. Two posters were propped on easels as Sviggum presented the House plan. One poster detailed the House GOP's proposal; the other was blank but for the headline, "House/Senate DFL budget plan."

The GOP should rub it in.

The DFL is fading back into passive-aggressive mode; not suggesting anything of its own, holding itself to sniping at the GOP. It's the safe approach; sort of like letting the other guy poke his head into the tiger cage, then criticizing his technique.

But as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. The DFL are venturing nothing; venture also brings risks. With the economy the way it is, and Minnesota's voter still unsure on their conservative legs, it may be the safe route.

The Strib continues:

It's a void that is crying to be filled -- and will be filled this week, DFL leaders vow. It would best be filled by a clear alternative to the deep cuts the Republicans have proposed -- in other words, by a budget that combines more modest service cuts with a state tax increase.

And that's probably what it'll be; full of sops to the public-sector employees and the special interests that essentially are the DFL.

Odds are against such a budget being adopted this year. But the political reality of the 2003 session is that the odds do not favor the adoption of any budget with DFL parentage.

When dealing with the Minneapolis Star/Tribune, it's hard to read between that statement's lines. Is the statement

• Shorthand for a belief that last November was jut a hallucination, that Minnesotans really do like high taxes, but are just in a temporary GOP fling? Or...
  
• A sign that the DFL-leaning Strib is slowly coming around, but can't quite admit it? Saying "the Legislature won't pass something with DFL lineage" goes down easier than saying "Voters are sick of high taxes".

The Strib continues

The DFL may control the Senate by two votes. But with the House and the governor in Republican lockstep, the DFL is a de facto minority, consigned to playing the minority's role. It's a role that needs to be played well.

The minority's role is neither to echo the majority, nor to simply criticize the majority's ideas. It is to present principled alternatives, and advocate for them in a way that attempts to educate and persuade the public. A vigorous minority does not just say that there must be a better way; it shows the better way.

We'll have to look and see what kind of "way" the DFL shows us. I'm suspecting "same old same old". We'll see shortly.

DFLers undoubtedly would tweak the Pawlenty budget in different places. But tweaking is not the same as standing apart, or standing for principle. If DFLers are sincere when they say that the Republican approach is detrimental to Minnesota, they are honor-bound to propose a real alternative.

They are, indeed.

I'll be waiting.

Posted by Mitch at April 7, 2003 08:26 AM