How to go forward from here

Now that I've got all the news on the special session out of the way, I want to call your attention to this Express News editorial. There's a narrative that needs to come out of this farce, whether it ends with a deal or not, and this editorial touches on it:

After watching this governor and this Legislature over the past few years, we sadly have reached the conclusion that they are unable to govern effectively.

They may enjoy small successes, but on the big issues — which they face now — they are unable to solve the state's problems.

If, at the last minute, they pull a bill out, that doesn't mean they have succeeded. That only means they will try to convince citizens that a sow's ear is a silk purse.

Don't let them fool you.

Emphasis mine. The message has to be that the only way to change the school finance system is to change out those who are in charge of it. As long as the current leadership has this responsibility, it won't happen, and it won't happen because they're too invested in keeping Highland Park and tax-avoiding businesses happy. Until you get some people in there who aren't beholden to those interests, you'll keep getting what you've been getting all along, special session after special session. You want to change the game, you have to start by changing the players. Simple as that.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 19, 2005 to Budget ballyhoo | TrackBack