Minnesota's Fixin' For a Shoot-Out

Here’s the scoop:  The State of Minnesota is facing around a $6 billion budget deficit.  In November, both our state houses went red, but we elected a democrat governor.  The legislature has stated in no uncertain terms there will be no tax increases, while the governor campaigned on “taxing the rich.”  If a budget agreement cannot be reached, the State of MN, (except for public safety and the judiciary) will shut down.  Until June 14, this included all of Minnesota State Colleges & Universities.  June 13, the chancellor of MNSCU delivered to the governor a written request for MNSCU to remain open, funding themselves with reserves and receipts.  June 14 the governor accepted the request and it was approved by a court.  What this means is 6000 union members will continue working on July 1 in the event of a state shutdown.  The immediate benefit I saw in this agreement is the fewer union members “out of work,” the fewer angry people putting pressure on the legislature to cave in to the governor.  My immediate reaction was affirmed by an AFSCME official who indicated the agreement between the governor and the chancellor of MNSCU may make union members “feel some unrest” because there would otherwise be a “larger…impact” and therefore the budget issue could be “resolved” sooner; i.e. push the Republicans into caving.

Here’s what simply puzzles me: if AFSCME is “for the worker,” shouldn’t they be nothing but elated that the governor and the chancellor came to an agreement which will result in 6000 union members continuing to receive a paycheck?  Now, whatever could they be after if not the satisfaction and happiness of their members?  Based on the remarks made by the official, it would seem to me in a way they WISH their workers would be faced with the dilemma of living with no paycheck.  If union members are being used as a pawn, I find that downright disgusting.  Here’s the bottomline:  WE HAVE NO MONEY.  And by “we,” I mean this nation, as a whole.  Somebody has to be the grown-up, put a foot down and firmly say “NO.”  We have GOT to QUIT SPENDING.  I’m sorry, but in the environment of 9.1% unemployment, unions complaining about having to sacrifice does not come off well.  I don’t know where the sympathy would come from and I don’t blame people for turning their backs.  I don’t think the hard-core left union members truly understand that when they demand more, they’re making the demand of their neighbors---not the wizard behind the curtain.  This is embarrassing.  This is like being one of the few who got on a lifeboat during the sinking of the Titantic, but then asking if someone could hand you a sandwich.  Hello?  How about just being thankful you’re on the boat??

It will be fascinating to watch how this develops and I am so thankful both our houses went from blue to red.  Maybe we can finally make some headway, even though it won’t be as easy as it could have been, had we secured the governorship as well.  We’ll take all the victories we can get and pat our legislators on the back.