Banana Republic of Spring Lake Park

I can confirm everything Residual Forces said about this BBQ event. I was there because I organized the event and invited the unnamed Republican official.

I, like many conservative bloggers, feel that conservatives got royally screwed this last session. This was an insult to the injury of the mammoth bonding bill that was passed earlier in the session. How quickly that barrel of pork was forgotten. And we'll probably get another billion dollar bonding bill next year so we can get back on track and make up for lost ground.

Our House has a good take on the Governor's subsequent comments on the session.

The "health impact fee," which will raise cigarette prices by 75 cents a pack and add charges to other tobacco products starting Aug. 1, was necessary to "get us out of the death spiral of the [partial government] shutdown," Pawlenty said.

Sorry, Governor. You proposed that fee long before the "death Spiral" of the shutdown was started. It didn't pass before that because Republicans balked and the DFL wanted more than that. This was your compromise position.

While critics could complain about his concessions, the governor said, "The reality is that in a statistically tied Legislature , you can't sit there and hold your breath waiting for the other side to adopt your position."

But Pawlenty denied reversing himself. He was a "skeptic" on light rail, he said, but came to see value in it. He still opposes state funding for a Twins stadium, but said Tuesday that if Hennepin County wishes to impose a tax on its citizens to fund one, state government should not "micromanage."

Way to throw your supporters in Hennepin County under the bus, Governor. And if you don't want to micro-mange then why the hell are there dozens of micro-grants to local governments tucked away in bonding bills?

Why not? Worked for the DFL.

To avoid a similar predicament next time, Pawlenty said he would favor a temporary "continuing resolution" that automatically funded the government while budget disputes were being resolved.

Don't be a wimp, Governor. Why not a constitutional amendment that calls for continuing funding at the previous years' level if a new budget is passed.

And this is precious:

Pawlenty said he still didn't think the state needed that extra spending on schools, health care and other items. But he added, "Since I took the beating for the fee, I should take some of the credit for the spending."

I'm sure your opponents will give you plenty of credit, Governor.

And if you don't believe me then here's proof:

The $12.8 billion K-12 education funding bill breezed to passage, with only eight House members and two in the Senate voting against an $800 million spending increase for schools. There was virtually no debate, though some called the bill only a stopgap for schools' continuing funding problems.

"I call this a 'good-enough-for-now bill,' " said Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville. She said it would take $1 billion more to solve those problems.

It's never enough, Governor. We keep telling you that but you won't listen. Give them half a loaf and they'll whine they didn't get the whole loaf. Give them the whole loaf and they'll say they need two.

It's. Never. Enough.

Senator Johnosn's negotiating tactics were reprehensible. But, in the end he will be rewarded by his party faithful for delivering the goods. Governor Pawlenty, Speaker Sviggum and Senator Day were faithful in their approach to the negotiations and were left holding the bag.

The Governor's leadership led us to this outcome. It has nothing to do with votes. It has to do with using his bully pulpit to affect the outcome. He was very effective at getting what he wanted. Sadly, that oputcome is not consistent with the expectations of many who helped get him where he is.