What says “One MInnesota” better than living in a million dollar lakeside mansion on the taxpayers dime? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Minnesotans stagger through inflation, gas prices and an economy that is teetering on the brink of crisis, the state is putting $6 million into repairing the govenor’s mansion. The governor and his family will be parked in a lakeside house on Sunfish Lake, for $17,000 a month, for 18 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why so posh? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’re told<\/a> it’s partly practical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The state had a 17-point list of qualifications and indicated that the property would need to have security features, be relatively close to the Capitol and be open to \u201cofficial ceremonial functions,\u201d as is required by state law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Now, I’m no expert, but I suspect the state’s got no shortage of suitable places for “official ceremonial functions”. We’ll come back to that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, we’re told, it’s partly security:<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Speaker Melissa Hortman, the top DFLer in the Minnesota Legislature, said she understands why space, security and neighborhood considerations make temporary lodging for the governor so expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen you have folks going to protest a governor at his house, you have the entire block of people who are there, not only the governor’s wife and children but the neighbors who didn’t necessarily sign up for this,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, I’m not surprised that it’s an expensive proposition to house a governor in a secure location.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As Hortman’s fellow DFLer Lisa Bender said, public safety is a privilege. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As someone whose house was on the edge of the DFL’s “room to destroy”, I think it’d be perfectly appropriate for the Walzes to get a place in the city, subject to the DFL’s capricious notion of law enforcement. Maybre someplace up at Plymouth and Sheridan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Governor Klink responded with his usual grace and evenhandedness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m pretty agnostic, where I lay my head,\u201d Walz said. \u201cI certainly welcome if the legislators\u2019 job is oversight. Go do it. It’s better than banning books. It’s better than demonizing kids. Go do that oversight. I accept whatever they find.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Speaking of “doing the job” – Governor Klink has been making himself pretty scarce. He hasn’t responded by my repeated invitations – not even a curt “F*** Off” – but even the largely DFL-friendly Blois Olson:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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