Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Friday, April 11, 2008

The good, the bad and the ugly of the bonding bill

By Daily News staff

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s decision to ax more than $200 million from the bonding bill Monday was an example of the good, bad and ugly of Minnesota politics.

Pawlenty took the opportunity to chastise his Democratic colleagues who have control of the Legislature for misplaced priorities. He used the example of funding a sheet music museum in Chatfield — right in our backyard — and not other priorities, such as nursing homes.

And that’s true. The bonding bill is usually a laundry list of pork meant to appease constituents and push sometimes-necessary projects through the bureaucratic workings of state government. It can also be an opportunity to fund a whole bunch of pet projects.

Pawlenty didn’t want Minnesota to go above its tradition of limiting bonding projects to three percent of the general fund revenue. While Republicans have worried that doing that might lower the state’s bonding rating, three percent is more of a precedent than policy. And, the line-item veto power was crafted for exactly this purpose: Trimming the fat in lean times.

The truth is: Priorities have to be made and it looks like Pawlenty did an overall decent job, with a few notable exceptions.

Pawlenty recognized the importance of higher education when he kept the Wellness Center at Winona State University in the bill.

This project is particularly important because like the laptops, which have now become commonplace at universities across America, Winona State continues to make innovations, moving far ahead of others. The Wellness Center will be a place where not only physical health is emphasized, but will be a center that encourages an entire range of well-being.

This is also a wonderful project to complete because Winona State has been fund-raising in efforts to get private dollars incorporated into the project. With private donations coming in, Pawlenty was right for recognizing the value to the taxpayers.

The community sees value in a wellness facility and knows the importance of this. Hopefully, the WSU Wellness Center will be a model for other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The state is getting a good deal by having private funds helping offset the costs.

Secondly, Pawlenty spared the Root River Trail. Anyone who’s been to Lanesboro or Fillmore County knows the trails are more than just a tourist magnet, they are the economic lifeblood of the county.

Local leaders, with state support, saw the importance of the trails and dedicated money for the project. Now, several decades later, we find that an entire county’s economy has been revitalized because of tourism. How many times over has the state recaptured the money it invested through sales and lodging tax?

As for the bad, it’s unfortunate that Pawlenty, who has been known as such a friend to business, didn’t see the tremendous business opportunity for the light-rail funding in the Twin Cities.

He cut $70 million in light rail funding from the bonding bill. Granted, that’s a lot of money. But the state could have parlayed that $70 million into $450 million of federal funding. That’s a pretty handsome return on the investment. A good business decision on many levels.

While some politicians, including Pawlenty, would like to make light rail a metro-versus-outstate issue, the fact is light rail may be a boon for all state travelers who have to navigate the clogged and congested roads of the Twin Cities.

Commuters would not spend as much time in cars. Those going through the cities would not spend as much time in traffic, and those coming to the Twin Cities might be able to park and ride into the cities or suburbs without jamming the streets.

There is talk of light rail to appear in other bills yet this session. We hope — for the sake of the entire state — that is true.

The Star Tribune reported Wednesday that a delay of just one year could mean an increase of $40 million due to inflation. Minnesotans have always rallied around a good, progressive idea; and, as we gripe about higher fuels prices and an increase in the gas tax, light rail seems to be an opportunity to ease that burden.

Finally, the ugly.

As reported in both the Twin Cities newspapers Tuesday, it appears that Pawlenty’s veto pen slashes through St. Paul the most. Many of the cuts seem to be aimed at the Twin Cities, especially the capital city. The St. Paul legislative delegation has cried “foul,” and the governor has dismissed the concerns.

Democrats in the Senate claim that of the 50 projects vetoed by Pawlenty that could be tied to a specific district, 49 of those were in from districts represented by a DFL senator. That means that 98 percent of the cuts hurt voters who voted for Democrats. It’s difficult to image that is merely coincidental.

Whether the vetoes were a matter of politics or sheer necessity, it doesn’t matter. The session is getting uglier as our resources and economic outlook continue to worsen. It’s a shame that when the state needs leadership the most, the only thing that’s found in abundance is partisan rancor.

By Darrell Ehrlick, editor, on behalf of the Winona Daily News editorial board, which also includes publisher Rusty Cunningham and online editor Jerome Christenson. To comment, call (507) 453-3507. or send e-mail to letters@winonadailynews.com.