"I Told You So"

During the last legislative session, many folks on the "right" were trying to put the brakes on the spending spree that the DFL led legislature (and the Governor to be fair) were going on. Well in light of the deficit, some are (correctly I might add) saying "I told you so"(scroll down to the Guest Commentary).

One year ago the economy was doing well and the Legislature was overflowing with ideas on how to spend the $2.2 billion state budget surplus. It was the first time in several years that we weren't facing a large deficit. A new cast of leaders was eager to validate its sweeping victory in the 2006 election by turning their campaign promises into promises kept.
In the midst of the spending frenzy, I wrote to constituents my belief that "we need to be prudent with spending and not leave ourselves in a tough situation if the economy takes a sudden downturn." There was at the time plenty of historical evidence to suggest such a downturn could take place.

The legislative update referenced above can be found here. Rep. Beard goes on to say:

However, the new legislative leadership had a different view and they pursued their spending agenda. Given their large majorities in the House and the Senate, that is certainly their right. Assuming that the $2.2 billion surplus would fund it, they grew the state budget to $34.5 billion. Doing so left us vulnerable to the exact situation we find ourselves in today.

I said before and I'll say it again, the reason for this can be summed up in one little number...85! Giving the DFL an overwhelming majority of the House and overwhelming control in the Senate has given us what we have today. Staying home is not an option. We simply must recruit and support good conservatives, like Reps. Beard and Buesgens in SD35. We can not afford to lose good folks like this. We also need to make sure that we find more good folks like this for the 85 other seats and work like heck to get them elected as well.

The time is now. What are you waiting for?