Timmy's Happy Trails 2/6/10

What are they supposed to do? (0.00 / 0)

Dan, regarding your comment "If MAK and House Dems. don't see through this weasel's s**t this time, they have only themselves to blame." I don't see what they're supposed to do. They can refuse to pass the items Pawlenty wants unless he agrees not to line item veto certain other items, but such an agreement might be worth nothing. It was worth nothing in the past. Once the bill is passed, with both the DFL's projects and Pawlenty's, nothign stops him form using his veto despite any promises. It's his last session, so they have nothing more to hold over him other than denouncing him to the press --- which he might not care about anyway at this point since only the national press matters for a presidential candidate. They could refuse to pass what Pawlenty wants, but then there's no reason for him not to use his veto.

If they can't override a veto, they have no recourse, and Pawlenty knows that. The only way I can see past it would be if there was a way to tie items together in one line, but I don't think they can.

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by: ericf @ Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 18:48:26 PM CST

You're right, (0.00 / 0)

my comment is unfair.

The thing is, last time they acted as if they believed TPaw would act with some degree of good faith, and just came off looking like fools.  I think if they make it clear, this time, that they have no expectations of the guy behaving in any way other than, let's say, 'despicably selfishly,' it could at least help in November.  I suppose there's a remote chance they could demand a public agreement, in writing, regarding vetoes, but I wouldn't put it beyond him to just refuse any bonding at all.  You're absolutely correct, in practical terms, the options are extremely limited.

I would like to see a lot more public pressure on the handful of Republican 'possibles' to override vetoes.  What's to lose?  It may have been an outlier, but a recent PIPress poll had TPaw's approval down around 29%.  A few swing district Repugs. might be willing to talk, given that.

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by: dan.burns @ Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 20:42:14 PM CST

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they might (0.00 / 0)

It will be tough to get Republicans to break with Gov. Gutshot because their discipline is so tight and the override six definitely paid for it. Cajoling by DFLers won't work. They'll have to be scared by constituents, which is tough be cause it means not just getting them to pay attention to state politics, but getting them to support something and riled up at Republicans opposition.

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by: ericf @ Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 00:17:18 AM CST

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