Underwhelmed

So the GOP, as we’ve noted, is underwhelmed with Dayton’s budget; since they control both chambers of the legislature, it’s pretty much toast.

But the DFL is right behind the governor – yeah?

Well, maybe not. Rachel Stassen-Berger did something more capitol reporters should oughtta do; asked some questions (emphasis added):

DFL leaders of the House and Senate Tuesday would not say whether they support the tax increases in DFL Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget.

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen and Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, both of whom ran for governor last year, were asked multiple times, in various ways, whether they would back, vote for or want to run on the proposed $4 billion in tax increases and they refused to give a yes or no.

They said it was an honest budget that was better than what Republicans could offer but, despite repeated chances, did not say they supported it.

Now, this can mean anything – or nothing.

Still, you’d think the DFL would want a little more love for the gov, right?

One exchange:

Question: “Do you support the tax increases in this bill?”

Thissen: “The governor is delivering on what he promised. We have always been in our DFL caucus in favor of a solution that is going to be fair…We need to look at the details of it. I think the most important thing now to look at is asking the Republicans, okay, what’s your answer.”

Another exchange:

Stassen-Berger – whom I’ve certainly criticized in this space before, and will no doubt criticize again – runs through two more such exchanges; go read ’em.

I’ve been calling Dayton a very, very weak governor. It could very well be I’m right…

8 thoughts on “Underwhelmed”

It’s just possible that Dayton (or his puppetmaster) knows exactly what he’s doing. He knows this budget will be swept up by the janitor before nightfall, just like all of Pawlenty’s. He therefore goes long, keeping his public employee union supporters pretty happy. He makes virtually no budget cuts, so Welfare Minnesota, Inc. also approves. And no matter what he winds up signing, he will “take the best deal” and/or “compromise” with the GOP getting all the blame for getting spending under control.

The only real error was going too far, to $4 billion, too high for the Strib (there is a limit!!!), the methods rather “draconian” even for some liberals.

The DFL rank and file don’t love the congenital idiot. They are afraid of him. He’s like the creepy big brother they are forced to live with.

Dear Santa:

While I was disappointed that my fellow citizens voted this clod Dayton into the Gov’s mansion, he’s the gift that keeps on giving. Even the DFL don’t support him. As he stutters and stammers his way through the next four years, he will virtually guarentee GOP wins for years to come.

Belated thanks as always. If we had to have a DFL governor, Dayton’s our best option…a trust-fund baby fool who’s never worked a day in his life.

Mitch wrote… “Rachel Stassen-Berger did something more capitol reporters should oughtta do; asked some questions (emphasis added):”
Should oughtta, but don’t oughtta.
Instead of looking at real world examples where these tax rate increase schemes have been tried and failed (or are failing) to bring in the projected revenue, these reporters spend their time culling victim stories from Victim’s Warehouse aka Welfare Minnesota Inc (h/t Speed G) for their reports on the budget and who will be affected by this reduction in the planned increase of spending on the program they are assisted by.