The Strib tries to shame the Governor into playing pattycake with Jim “Dr. Pork” Oberstar:

Jim Oberstar wants a partner. The new chairman of the House Transportation Committee a title that makes Oberstar the nations most powerful figure when it comes to planes, trains and automobiles wants badly to give his home state the full benefit of his influence — and the ample federal dollars that flow with it — if only Minnesota will clasp his hand.

(Closed circuit to Ryan Rhodes and Learned Foot: Do you have any idea how hard it was to let that “clasp his hand” thing go without coming up with a better, if bluer, metaphor?  I bet you both do.  I shall learn from the example of Jeff Kouba, and be better than that).

But it will not. At least not so far. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has made plain his disinterest in putting up the money needed to leverage federal dollars to begin solving Minnesotas long-brewing transportation crisis. Why? Because, as Oberstar pointed out to an overflow crowd at a joint transportation committee session in St. Paul last week, it would require raising the states user fee on gasoline, a user fee that the governor prefers to spell “t-a-x.” Thus, the discussion is ended and the partnership precluded.

And one of the principles under which Pawlenty was elected four years ago – and re-elected last year – was upheld.

Imagine that – a politician sticking to a campaign promise!

Other states will be happy to take Minnesotas money, Oberstar said. Forty-five of them have raised their gasoline taxes since Minnesota last raised its in 1988, and many have committed local matches for building transit systems, making them more reliable partners than Minnesota. Its a point that business should especially understand: A partner who wont ante up isnt much of a partner. Asked if he had a message for the governor, Oberstar paused, then said politely: “Face up to the reality.”

Put in plain English: “Pork is how the game is played.  Play along!”

Indeed, Pawlentys reluctance makes him look out-of-date considering the investments other Republican governors have made on several fronts in recent years.

“But Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!  All the other kids are doing it!  Why can’t I?”

His no-new-taxes song has fallen to golden oldie status as attention shifts to the obvious need for basic investment, in this case, in transportation. Drive through almost any state and youll ride on better roads. Visit any comparable metro area and youll find a better and rapidly expanding transit system. Minnesota looks threadbare. It has been slow to grasp the economic peril of falling behind competitors, slow to feel the tragedy of unsafe rural roads, and slow to understand that the right kind of transportation investments are essential to meeting the challenges of climate change and energy independence. This is not just about metro traffic congestion.

No, but it’s not about improving transportation, either.  The Strib has stood in lock step against road improvements – which we need – in favor of “improvements” to transit (which we don’t, at least certainly not in its current form).

The Senate has the votes to override Pawlentys promised veto of a meaningful transportation bill. House members of both parties must now find the courage to do likewise.

To match Pawlenty’s courage in resisting the easy, primrose path?  To abandoning his principles?

Good luck with that, DFL.

This entry was posted by by Mitch Berg on Tuesday, February 27th, 2007 at 5:57 am and is filed under Minnesota Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.