| I'll give Tom Emmer this much: he's in a tough spot.
Having to prove both that he's capable of leading the state of Minnesota in the next decade and that he's somehow different from the failed policies of Tim Pawlenty is quite a tall order. However, it doesn't seem like he's interested or capable of either part.
In an interview with Esme Murphy on Sunday, the following exchange took place: Murphy: Controversy this week with Governor Tim Pawlenty saying that he's not sure if he's going to accept some $263 million of federal stimulus money aimed at Medicare and Medicaid funds for the elderly and poor. If you were governor right now, would you accept that money?
Emmer: No. And when you characterize it that way, I think it sounds a little bit more serious. Yes, Mr. Emmer, the problem is how the anchor is characterizing it, and not with the fact that you'd refuse a big chunk of money from the feds that would help close the gaping hole in the state's budget. Sure. Awesome. Once again, this is Emmer following along and doubling down on what Tim Pawlenty has wreaked upon the state's fiscal situation.
The list goes on: Emmer voting against an early Medicaid expansion that would have helped poor Minnesotans. Emmer opposing a bill that would have leveraged a billion dollars in federal subsidies (at last count, about a sixth of the state budget shortfall).
Again and again, Emmer has supported Pawlenty as the current lame duck attempts to raise his miniscule appeal to the fiscal dead-enders in the GOP presidential sweepstakes. The question is whether Emmer has any ideas of his own, or if he's really so drunk on the anti-everything Kool-Aid that he doesn't see the damage eight years of Tim Pawlenty has done to our state. |
