3 Republicans who overrode veto lose party endorsement

[LaStrega]

3 Republicans who overrode veto lose party endorsement

Three Republican legislators who voted with the DFL to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto and pass a $6.6 billion state transportation bill were denied the GOP endorsement for reelection at local caucuses Saturday. All three said they plan to run for reelection.

Full Article

[CatholicEdHead]

1. The GOP activists are frothing at the mouth over this

It is either total lockstep or out you go with them. This current GOP is a very vindictive bunch, far from the Arne Carlson days where you could have an actual conversation with them instead of the "my way or the highway" approach we have now.

[LaStrega]

2. Frothing at the mouth is right! And yeah, they're vindictive as they come. n/t

[CubFan7125]

3. What would you have done

What if a democrat had the balls to vote against going into my pockets deeper? They probably would be running him out of the party and he would be getting blasted on boards like this. Every Democrat voted for this, I am sure there was some arm twisting there. Both party's are in lockstep and that is the real problem. Neither party allows for independent thinkers and that is the problem with todays politics. And before people question me again, I am a democrat, I support Hillary and this gas tax was the biggest mistake Minnesota every made.

[Mister Ed]

4. Deeper into your pocket?

Someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the gasoline tax has been a specific number of cents per gallon (not a percentage), and has not changed for many years. Therefore, due to inflation, the gasoline tax you pay has been going downward steadily for many years. During that time, the costs of constructing and maintaining the highways on which we use that gasoline have gone up steeply.

We now have over ten thousand miles of rural highways whose patching has been postponed for years in order to "save money". Now those highways have deteriorated to the point where they must be resurfaced instead, at many times the cost of patching. That's just one example of the gimmicks the Republicans have employed in order to maintain the illusion that they're holding the line on taxes for you and me.

This sort of "thriftiness" is comparable to a person tearing out the wood trim in his house and burning it in the fireplace so he can congratulate himself on how much he's saving on heating bills. It's penny-wise and pound-foolish, to say the very least.

I don't like paying taxes any more than you do, and I want my tax dollars spent as carefully as possible. To decide whether I'm getting my money's worth, I must ask myself not only, "How much am I paying", but also, "What am I getting for my money?" and "Will this expenditure save me from a greater expenditure down the road?". Only then can I judge whether I'm overtaxed or not.

I'm certain that the three Republican legislators who helped override Pawlenty's veto didn't do it because they enjoy taking flak from their fellow Republicans. I have to think they did it because they knew it was in the best interests of their constituents, and Minnesotans as a whole.

[CatholicEdHead]

5. Like Mr Ed said, this is a cost of living increase

The total worth has dropped due to inflation over 20 years. Take a drive on Wisconsin rural roads compared to Minnesota rural roads and you can quickly feel the difference. Transportation is a vital part of our economic infrastructure, which needed an increase so good and services could pass through.

[question everything]

6. Good for them. This is why I object to candidates "abiding" by the party

endorsement.

We actually had a resolution about that. I hope that it will make it all the way to the State Convention.