A Contrast in Governing
As the first shortfall projections came out last November, Governor Beshear launched a full-scale effort to describe the pain that cutting government spending would inflict on Kentucky citizens. Check out his language last Thanksgiving:
A statement from Beshear said asking the state agencies and universities to plan for 4 percent cuts was the first necessary step to gauge the effects of potentially painful cuts.
"We know this process is not easy for anyone involved, and the size of the cuts being contemplated would, as the governor indicated last week, result in very difficult and painful choices," the statement said. "But we have to prepare and these scenarios are critical in doing that."
Now, let's contrast his language with that of Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. Gov. Pawlenty has won a battle with the Minnesota legislature which passed large spending increases and tax increases to his desk. You should read the whole article here.
Governor Pawlenty vetoed the tax increases, then made use of a provision of Minnesota's constitution that the Governor has the authority to ignore any program for which there is no funding. Those actions allowed him to balance the budget while creating "one of the first times in modern Minnesota history that the state will reduce the size of government in real terms, not just slow its rate of growth." His quote:
"The sky isn't going to fall," Mr. Pawlenty told reporters on Tuesday, just because Minnesota has to trim 3% to 4% from a $34 billion budget.
And what to Minnesota voters think? The same thing Kentucky voters would:
Mr. Pawlenty's hardball has earned him glowing praise from the state's job creators, in particular small businesses, who are relieved to be spared additional tax burdens in today's economy. The governor's message -- that it is simply "inappropriate" for state legislators to keep spending like lunatics and raise taxes in a recession -- has resonated with cash-strapped voters.
Hat Tip to Rick Grana
