We’re about halfway into the legislative session and the DFL is treading a little too carefully for my taste. Last week, the Senate unveiled a budget plan that doesn’t include any discussion of raising taxes–a political cop-out if I ever saw one. I don’t think voters will react harshly to modest tax increases if lawmakers speak plainly and sincerely about the need for adequate funds to educate our kids, make our commute times shorter, and provide health care to the vulnerable and working families. Meanwhile, proposals to fund transit through a metro-wide sales tax and to give local government agencies the option to provide domestic partner benefits to employees are moving ahead, but could be derailed by a gubernatorial veto.
I’m assuming that the DFL is beginning to look ahead to the endgame of this session and prioritizing the items on its wish list. I’m hoping they can armtwist Pawlenty into compromising on some of these issues. He can’t veto everything without looking stubborn and beholden to his base. And if Pawlenty does harbor ambitions for higher office, he might want to burnish his moderate credentials.
