By John Marty
The television news images looked tough: Carlson administration Officials sitting in a "Veto Command Center" Poring over legislation, determined to weed out "excessive" spending. However, it was all images; the Veto Command Center was virtually empty shortly after news reporters and photographers left.
The tragedy of this cynical public relations ploy was that Arne Carison, from his "Command Center," was indeed waging a war, not on poverty, but on the poor and on working Minnesotans.
At every opportunity where Carlson could have demonstrated real political courage by investing a small amount of money now to save more later - what might be called the "politics of prevention" -- he chose instead shortsightedness and political expediency.
There are two ways to govern. You can lead, working through the session to come up with the best laws possible and promote an agenda that will prevent future fiscal disasters. Or you can sit back, do nothing, and condemn with phony rhetoric.
This past week's vetoes characterize a governor more interested in short-term savings to look good than providing leadership and honestly planning for the fliture.
Throughout the last session, Carlson was seldom seen when his support was needed to rush legislation that could benefit Minnesotans. But the minute the session was over, he emerged and to students, the uninsured, and low-income working people, all he could say was "no".
Despite his talk earlier this year about welfare reform, he vetoed three bills, each a major step toward reform - money for affordable child care, an increase in the minimum wage, and health care coverage for additional low-income working people. These bills would have helped move people off the welfare rolls into jobs and onto tax rolls.
Almost 7,000 families are on the waiting list for affordable child care. Yet Arne CarIson vetoed $8 million for the sliding-fee child care program that would have reduced this waiting list. That's a small investment considering the number of people on welfare who are willing to work but can't find affordable care for their children.
Equally outrageous is the veto of an increase of the minimum wage by 75 cents an hour over the next two years.
You can't live on $4.25 an hour. Carlson was eager to assist millionaires through the Target Center bailout, but unwilling to provide a meager 75 cents an hour for people struggnng to get by.
Carlson vetoed funds for battered women and child abuse prevention. These shortsighted vetoes don't save money when the long term cost of higher crime and health care costs are taken into consideration.
We know effective juvenile offender programs can prevent crime. But in Carlson's upside-down world, his veto stripped the money to hire more probation officers, and the counties will now be forced to meet this need by raising property taxes.
The veto frenzy was not a thoughtful decisionmaking process. Carlson hit Minnesota's hospitals with a $31 million loss to save the state only $ 14 million. Some hospitals said this may force them to close.
After the veto, a Carlson policy adviser attempted to defend the action by questioning whether it is necessary for all the hospitals survive.
What a question. There was no attempt by the governor's staff to raise these issues during legislative hearings or conference committee deliberations. Why didn't they look at the health needs first rather than vetoing the money and then asking the questions?
Behind Carlson's manipulation of the TV images, behind the bravado of his command center there is a lack of political courage. The governor's failure to invest today in the people of Minnesota is not an act of fiscal responsibility but a disregard for the future and an act of fiscal irresponsibility.
Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, is the DFL candidate for governor.
(Reprinted from the Minneapolis Star Tribune Commentary Page, Tuesday May 17)
Prepared by Minnesotans for Marty, 2161 University Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55114 Telephone/Fax: (612)644-5775/644-4131