Case studies
The NY Times has discovered Minnesota. They printed a fairly well done piece on the aftermath of the 2006 election and what it portends for Minnesota.
"Who ends up where is only the beginning of the tumult under the Capitol dome here as eager new faces and deeply practiced old ones contemplate what Minnesota voters said on Election Day. Money, policy and tactical choices are all in play: how best to spend a $2 billion surplus and address what both parties see as a mandate for improving public education, health care and transportation and for making taxes more fair. "
The new session (which starts January 3) is indeed going to be an interesting one to watch. The DFL leadership is made up strictly of "city" representatives. SpeakeStr Margaret Anderson-Kelliher is from Minneapolis as is Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller. The Republicans countered with Representative Marty Siefert from Rochester as House Minority Leader and Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem serves SD29 which covers rural Dodge County. This will set up an instant conflict there.
Another source of conflict could come from within the DFL itself as the Times points out.
"But they emerged divided, too, owing much of their surge to newly elected moderates from the suburbs who are unlikely to embrace a pure liberal agenda. The Republicans lost big, but were pushed toward the center as well, led by Mr. Pawlenty, who has said since the election that many of his second-term priorities will overlap with those of the Democrats he fiercely battled in his first four years."
I would argue this point with the Times and will do so shortly.
"The fight of 2007 will revolve around restoring some of the cut programs, and how far to go beyond that in pushing what both parties say is pent-up demand for property tax relief and for spending increases on education, health care and transportation. "
A lot of legislators are going to be torn here. Each House and Senate member will be pushed toward a different priority depending on his district. For example, in the district I live in (SD35) transportation is the number 1 issue, followed (at a fairly large distance) by property tax relief. In other counties, health care costs are the number 1 issue and transportation is well down the list.
Everyone is talking centrism right now.
"The incoming speaker of the House, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a Democrat from Minneapolis, said she had no problem with that. If the governor’s interests mesh with the Democratic majority’s, for whatever reason, Ms. Kelliher said, it will be a victory for Minnesota.
“He has a real incentive to make his next four years work and gain some national attention,” she said. “Making this a state that gets things done will garner him national attention, and us, too.”
The Governor is too.
"“Republicans love to talk about markets — well, the market just told Republicans something,” he said. “The market just told them, ‘We’re not interested much in your product, and we’re choosing to go to your competitor.’ We need to hear that message.”
And here is where I disagree with the Governor and the Times. There was no rejection of real Republican ideals in this last election. What was rejected were the quasi-conservatives. The ones who said that they followed Conservative principles, but their actions belied their words. The Republican base, discouraged by politicians who walked away from the party platform stayed home in droves and the swing voters said "why should we vote for Democrat posuers when we can vote for the real thing." THAT is why you almost lost Governor Pawlenty. The markets didn't reject the Republican message, they rejected YOU!
Don't feel bad though Governor, departing Speaker Steve Sviggum didn't get it either.
"“It was about George W. Bush,” Mr. Sviggum said in his office, which was lined with boxes ready for his move downstairs. "
One thing is for sure. Some political analysts do get it.
“This is not a progressive or liberal majority; the seats they picked up are in moderate or conservative districts,” said Lawrence R. Jacobs, a professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.
“The Democratic leadership is very much aware that they’ve got to be careful, that if they go for what they want in their heart of hearts they may end up with a two-year run.”
And that, dear reader, is the rub. The question is whose leadership will "get it" first. Will the DFL leadership get it in order to retain control or will the Republicans wake up and smell the coffee? Only time will tell, but it will make things interesting for the next two years.
"Who ends up where is only the beginning of the tumult under the Capitol dome here as eager new faces and deeply practiced old ones contemplate what Minnesota voters said on Election Day. Money, policy and tactical choices are all in play: how best to spend a $2 billion surplus and address what both parties see as a mandate for improving public education, health care and transportation and for making taxes more fair. "
The new session (which starts January 3) is indeed going to be an interesting one to watch. The DFL leadership is made up strictly of "city" representatives. SpeakeStr Margaret Anderson-Kelliher is from Minneapolis as is Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller. The Republicans countered with Representative Marty Siefert from Rochester as House Minority Leader and Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem serves SD29 which covers rural Dodge County. This will set up an instant conflict there.
Another source of conflict could come from within the DFL itself as the Times points out.
"But they emerged divided, too, owing much of their surge to newly elected moderates from the suburbs who are unlikely to embrace a pure liberal agenda. The Republicans lost big, but were pushed toward the center as well, led by Mr. Pawlenty, who has said since the election that many of his second-term priorities will overlap with those of the Democrats he fiercely battled in his first four years."
I would argue this point with the Times and will do so shortly.
"The fight of 2007 will revolve around restoring some of the cut programs, and how far to go beyond that in pushing what both parties say is pent-up demand for property tax relief and for spending increases on education, health care and transportation. "
A lot of legislators are going to be torn here. Each House and Senate member will be pushed toward a different priority depending on his district. For example, in the district I live in (SD35) transportation is the number 1 issue, followed (at a fairly large distance) by property tax relief. In other counties, health care costs are the number 1 issue and transportation is well down the list.
Everyone is talking centrism right now.
"The incoming speaker of the House, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a Democrat from Minneapolis, said she had no problem with that. If the governor’s interests mesh with the Democratic majority’s, for whatever reason, Ms. Kelliher said, it will be a victory for Minnesota.
“He has a real incentive to make his next four years work and gain some national attention,” she said. “Making this a state that gets things done will garner him national attention, and us, too.”
The Governor is too.
"“Republicans love to talk about markets — well, the market just told Republicans something,” he said. “The market just told them, ‘We’re not interested much in your product, and we’re choosing to go to your competitor.’ We need to hear that message.”
And here is where I disagree with the Governor and the Times. There was no rejection of real Republican ideals in this last election. What was rejected were the quasi-conservatives. The ones who said that they followed Conservative principles, but their actions belied their words. The Republican base, discouraged by politicians who walked away from the party platform stayed home in droves and the swing voters said "why should we vote for Democrat posuers when we can vote for the real thing." THAT is why you almost lost Governor Pawlenty. The markets didn't reject the Republican message, they rejected YOU!
Don't feel bad though Governor, departing Speaker Steve Sviggum didn't get it either.
"“It was about George W. Bush,” Mr. Sviggum said in his office, which was lined with boxes ready for his move downstairs. "
One thing is for sure. Some political analysts do get it.
“This is not a progressive or liberal majority; the seats they picked up are in moderate or conservative districts,” said Lawrence R. Jacobs, a professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.
“The Democratic leadership is very much aware that they’ve got to be careful, that if they go for what they want in their heart of hearts they may end up with a two-year run.”
And that, dear reader, is the rub. The question is whose leadership will "get it" first. Will the DFL leadership get it in order to retain control or will the Republicans wake up and smell the coffee? Only time will tell, but it will make things interesting for the next two years.
posted by The Lady Logician at
8:05 PM
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