Another swing and a miss for public unions

Mpls. Star Tribune ^ | 7/16/11 | Katherine Kersten

[rhema]

Minnesota's government shutdown -- the longest in U.S. history -- may soon be over. The breakthrough came on July 14, when Gov. Mark Dayton announced he was taking higher taxes -- his signature issue -- off the table. Much remains to be done before the deal is wrapped up. But now is the moment to reflect on what happened, and why.

For the left, especially government employee unions, the stakes in Minnesota's budget battle were momentous. Raising taxes is at the heart of the progressive agenda. More tax money is essential if government is to continue its rapid expansion, which they ardently desire.

But in recent months, the left has repeatedly struck out on that front. In New York and California, among the nation's most liberal states, Democratic governors have slashed services and spending to balance their budgets, without raising taxes. The same debate is underway at the federal level, in the pitched battle over the debt ceiling.

Here in Minnesota, the left's challenge was to muscle Dayton's bloated budget and new taxes through a GOP-controlled Legislature. They had to succeed to prove the national tide has not turned inexorably against ever-expanding government.

Progressive forces hauled out their biggest guns to win the battle here. An organization called Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) led the charge for a phalanx of hyperactivist groups. ABM's name may conjure up images of your local, public-spirited Kiwanis Club. In fact, it's a state affiliate of the 16-member ProgressNow network, which describes itself as a 24/7 communications hub for progressive groups and issues.

ABM is lavishly funded by Big Labor --AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU and Education Minnesota -- and by Dayton family members and other über-wealthy liberals. In the 2010 election, the organization poured $5 million into attack ads targeting Dayton's opponent, Tom Emmer, and

[rhema]

In these times, average folks know that they must live within their means, and that this requires making tough choices on spending. We can't just vote ourselves more income, as elected officials can do for government workers.

[yldstrk]

The Northern states are suffering the most from decades of socialism. When I visited in 2009, all you could see were beat up cars, empty boat slips........in Minnesota, Hubert Horatio Humphrey legacy left large.........

[RowdyFFC]

Good. The more money spent from the union coffers in battlegrounds like this, the better. That is $1 million they won’t have for 2012.

Maybe between now and 2012, we can get local legislators to try to pass every piece of legislation they can think of that would blow the unions minds and get them to spend, spend, spend.

[rhema]

Big hitters for the two front groups that funded Alliance for a Better Minnesota:

AFSCME -- $800,000
Alida Messinger (Dayton ex-wife) -- $750,000
AFT/Education MN -- $500,000
SEIU -- $400,000
Mary Lee Dayton -- $250,000

[foundedonpurpose]

Is there a reason to open the government back up? I’m guessing that the average citizen is not missing it.

[preacher]

Raising taxes is at the heart of the progressive Marxist agenda.

[gusopol3]

Every public employee union defeat is an act of voter suppression for 2012. If BO in the WH really can’t do anything for them, why bother to turn out? Same, or more so, with the students not getting jobs as they come out of college. 70 m for BO in ‘08; 50 m in ‘12?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Perhaps at long last, my former next door neighbor in Prior Lake will retire her “Wellstone” yard sign.

[Adder]

If you do not enforce the already passed laws, then, no, no compelling reason to do so. But there are people there who are still trying to comply with laws, like that plant that closed because their water permit expired leaving 250 sent home and folks who can’t renew liquor licenses in order to get more beer. [ai-EEEEE!!!]

Seems to me that if the government isn’t operating, those types of issues should not apply...especially if they are just government regulations...

[driftless2]

Actually some of the northern states, like Minnesota and Wisconsin, have not suffered as much as a lot of other states because the level of education is higher. Minnesota’s unemployment rate as of May 2011 was 6.6 percent. Wisconsin’s, my home state, was one percentage point higher. Not great, but much better than the national average. The problem is both states are filled with liberals and leftists who think ever-expanding government is a great thing. Big Labor has poured boatloads of money into both states to affect elections and public opinion.

[Oatka]

This is a pretty realistic article coming from a newspaper that has been named “red” Star. Maybe light is starting to dawn.

[Aevery_Freeman]

Believe me, they left the enforcement/collection apparatus in full working order.

Only the citizens will suffer.

[Traveler59]

This is a pretty realistic article coming from a newspaper that has been named “red” Star. Maybe light is starting to dawn.

I believe the author, Katherine Kersten, is the only conservative on the editorial staff. Kind of like their token "TEA Party member" just so they can say they have one.

[MplsSteve]

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