Posted by
Lady Logician on Saturday, April 05, 2008 6:27:19 PM
I got the most interesting email from Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-35B) the other day.
As Monday's snowstorm continued, the Minnesota House of Representatives plans too take up the all important issue of. a resolution urging the President and Congress to end trade, financial, and travel restrictions to Cuba. With all the important issues facing our state including deficits, loss of jobs, educational woes and healthcare issues, symbolic resolutions on issues we have no control over are a waste of the taxpayers' time.
Lest you think he jests check out page 9477 of the daily Journal of the House where SF 599 was put on the calendar for the day. This is a bill that was introduced last year in the House and the Senate (with bi-partisan support I would add) but it languised in committee and never saw the light of day until Feb. 19. It was passed out of the House Commerce and Labor Committee on Feb. 19 and sat until March 31.
It just seems to be a little strange that this bill is even being considered when you look at waht this state is facing. Why in heavens name would our legislature stick it's collective noses into Federal business when we have businesses fleeing the state due to a deteriorating business climate. Forbes Magazine lists out the best and worst metro areas to do business and when it comes to the cost of doing business (based on costs of labor, taxes, energy and office space) in the Minneapolis/St Paul metro, we come in at 172 out of 200! Our overall ranking is 103 out of 200, based on the high education ranking (percentage of population with a bachelors degree or higher), but when you look at just the cost of doing business and the job growth ranking (which does not include this current job downturn) this state is in world of hurt. Why is our legislature spending money that they don't have on projects that are not "essential" to the survival of the state?
That is, I think, the question we must ask ALL of our legislators. Why are we discussing Federal trade restrictions with Cuba when we have a rising unemployment rate and faltering economy of our OWN to worry about?