Yesterday, after asking the House to hold off on holding hearings on HF1 (Rep. Dan Fabian’s bill to reform state permitting), Governor Dayton released an executive order that will do the same thing.
Well, that’s what the DFL and media (pardon the redundancy) will want you to think.
Dayton’s order will do a bunch of the streamlining that HF1 would do…
…with one absolutely key exception. Via Gary Gross at LFR, House Majority Leader Matt Dean said in a statement:
“Today’s executive order is concerning. Just a week ago, Governor Dayton was asking us to slow down and allow more time for public hearings and input.
In other words, the MNGOP reached across the aisle. They gave a little procedural ground, and worked with the Governor.
And that’s always a mistake.
The Minnesota House has held two public hearings on HF1 and are planning a third hearing on this important legislation. We are concerned that Governor Dayton selected components of HF1 for his Executive Order, watered down some provisions and ignored key areas of reform.
We find his actions today to be counterproductive to the legislative process and his stated commitment to work together on these common ground issues. House Republicans will continue with our previously-announced public process for HF1 and other initiatives designed to make Minnesota’s business climate competitive. We hope Governor Dayton will join us in that endeavor.”
So compare HF1 and the statement. What’s missing?
Any reference to reforming litigation.
It’s the litigation that not only kills projects, but blows up the price of private-sector and state projects.
Now – given that Governor Dayton has stacked his administrative appointments with people whose entire public resume involves litigating development to death, what do you suppose his “executive order” is going to be worth?
Oh, yeah – and “executive orders” exist, and are enforced, at the pleasure of the governor. What the governor orders with a swipe of his pen, he can un-order the same way.
The GOP needs to continue and pass HF1, and tell the Governor “thanks, but no thanks; we’ll stick with the brand name”.
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