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Minnesota Government, is it Broke?

Leadership and a plan for the states future should start with the Governor who as CEO for the State of Minnesota should outline plans for development, finances and generally “Moving Minnesota Forward.” Has our present or past Governor done this job? Discussion on this is warranted now and at election time.

Failing that, the Minnesota Legislature has a responsibility to provide Governing Direction and Leadership to not only include the maintenance factors of revenue, education and that needed to maintain our states functionality but dig in deeper to the not so popular issues that would actually “plan” for Minnesota's future.

Most Minnesotans who have jobs work 12 months a year with 2 weeks vacation, teachers work diligently 9 months a year and the Minnesota Legislature has a difficult work span of 5 winter months and are free to enjoy Minnesota Summers in retirement or with the kids or back to their jobs, and some back to St. Paul

The cycle of bi-annual sessions is proverbially a Budget process one year followed up by a General “Pre-election” session the next which some say “tempers” the ability to get real work done. One Legislative Leader suggested that for the first three weeks of any session it is wasted time and little is accomplished.

This year the “Message” was “Budget Only” and nothing else, however a flawed “emotional pitch” was made for Medical Marijuana and a rough guess was that 10,000 hours of the peoples time was “wasted.” Google search shows how bad, http://www.afla1.com/215420/ . However one might say the Legislature finally has a “Jobs Bill.” See more links at: MedicalMarijuana

This leads us to a discussion on all matters being crunched into the final weeks, days and hours, where “All” issues of importance are squeezed together for consideration much like a dozen people in a fishing boat with the drain plug missing, the boat filling with water, the calamity of people on board and a solution where all are swimming to shore high fiving themselves on a job well done.

The People of Minnesota of meanwhile have higher needs though they don’t want to face the facts, “No” being the key, “No new taxes,” ah the comfort in that, “No money for Billionaires,” Babble to the effect that those major infrastructures are not used by them, the Birkenstock approach that has an Independent Party with members too afraid to join the DFL and make a real difference, yes, the “No” is in by people who don’t want to pull up their bootstraps and make Minnesota again a great state like it once was.

It starts with leadership by the Governor and the Legislature and the need for them to act on the obvious, “The Structure” of government laid out 150 years ago is not viable in today’s modern world. “Part Time Government” isn’t working anymore, you can see it in the frustration in the final hours and it is made worse by the lack of leadership to handle the issues that are “Outside the Box” of State Maintenance

The Minnesota Legislature’s structure failure to produce long term results goes beyond “Part Time Government,” Leadership has dictated that newer members are excluded from bringing bills forward without the consent, ("Knowledgeable Source" "They are allowed to bring Bills forward then they are ignored,") and with the “Crunch Time Structure” only the lobbyist’s with multiple man hours are heard and on that is the reliance by the Legislature. Individual’s with ideas but not the time are shut out, a “Peoples Committee” with a spelled out response would open up Government “to the people.”

“Outside the Box,” inside, the difficult day to day work is not unheralded, would “we,” myself included, want the difficult and mundane effort of digging into the details of taxes, education and running the state, most of us would not, but still we need to look at the big issues “outside that box” to move us forward, tourism needs, the structure of local government including retirement benefits, taxes and monetary ways of same, and overall providing a means so people can actually retire instead of working into their 70’s.

“Full Time Government” that is the first step, cut the Legislature by a third and double their pay so that they can schedule time to address the various issues both inside the box and those “outside” that would give us time and the structure to “Plan” our future, a structure not unlike our federal system, oh horrors.

To the scribes in the Capitol basement and to the Legislature and to the Governor it is “not a move wanted” but it is warranted by the times and the need to move Minnesota Forward which is political speak for “do your job, make something happen, and do what is necessary to provide the means to get something accomplished that puts the real needs of the people of Minnesota first,” to “move us forward.”

The current system or cycle of “Budget and Waiting for Re-election” and ignoring the “Outside the Box” issues needs to be changed. The endless committee hearing hours need to be augmented by quality “Office-Desk Time” where “Specific Projects” are addressed with member written information and Bills.

The overall structure of Government in Minnesota from the local municipalities including school boards and law enforcement to Counties and the interrelationship of the monetary aspects of same and how it can be made more efficient so more can be done with effective revenue streams needs to be looked at. There are areas of fat were non-action is rewarded and overall the state should balance its “provisions” so as not to burden the long-term residents of this state.

Leadership, it’s more than the Governor or the Legislature, to get action it starts with the media informing the people of more than the happenings of the day, to have Minnesota be successful those long term issues must be addressed so as to involve not only the people but the Business community which has been happy going from banquet to banquet singing “Isn’t life wonderful” or some such of a song. Media, you are supposed to be the “light” for the people to offer the sight of guidance for the future.

County and Local, the only failure of leadership is not at the state level, Metro wise we did the Nicollet Mall 40 years ago and except for a touch-up nothing since and not a word for the future, the other “Twin” has a big problem where the downtown is drying up and an ice rink is not the problem solver, some imaginative thinking, and the thoughtfulness to do so, is needed. And the gem to the south, Mall of America, our Mecca of Tourism, state revenue and image, is left to itself, un-ferreted by the push of leadership locally as well as statewide.

The County of Hennepin is a prime example, opps, was going to site the new ballpark being built next to a garbage burning plan without a roof but that was the Legislatures fault, but city wise no new direction has been advised that would provide space, or a reason, for suburbia to feel safe and return to downtown Minneapolis. Do something to make something happen, rebuilding neighborhoods gets people re-elected but doesn’t solve the core of the problem, a viable city has to provide jobs that just might give people a place in society and cut down on the crimes, and the visions there-of

The County of Hennepin besides digging deep to see which expenditures that are counter-related with the state should be addressed the balance of this important county in “Moving Minnesota Forward” The City of Minneapolis in a selfish mode wants to keep the Vikings at a Metrodome site when 99% of the people smile and jump up and down at the prospect of a General Purpose Stadium Facility “where it used to be,” at Mall of America, and when talking a tourism connection the term “No brainer” is often used. The fault of addressing future tourism issues for image, revenue and jobs starts in St. Paul but a great deal could be accomplished with a nudge from below, and was the media mentioned???

Meanwhile, Dallas has congregated its Museums in one area, St. Paul take notice; and everywhere, Dallas, Indianapolis, New York, everyone is moving forward, and New Jersey’s Xanadu Mall, a white elephant for sure, will take Mall of America’s spot as the United States “must see” tourism distention. Meanwhile all levels of government, state, county, city, sit idly by, waiting for development, and planning, to come to them.

Failure of Leadership, government, media, business all are responsible but the buck starts at the Governors Office and the Legislature, they, you, are responsible to do the peoples work, even if at times they like to waddle in the comfort of “No new taxes,” and the Babble of “No tax money for Billionaires” it is a modern world that dictates that for the purposes of moving forward certain things need to be accomplished and it’s up to you to find a way to get it done. In the area of checks and balances, in the area of Ultimate Leadership we need to limit a Governor to a two term limit and for continuity a full time legislature with expertise imbedded, limits will take care of them selves

Minnesota is in a pickle, is Gedney’s still here, Supervalu what say ye, to the world we have “Lost that loving feeling,” Atlanta is cool; Austin, Texas is happening, our bridges are falling down, we can’t get a Senator to office, our students are making a bon-fire out of my S. E. Minneapolis, please don’t burn down Marshall High, hey Susie Jones, the Japanese and their cameras are not coming to Mall of America any more, Hennepin Avenue, saw a body ambulanced out of Block E at 6:30pm on a Saturday and a recent Strib. Story expounded to that Hennepin Ave. effect and many more on the decline of Minnesota, it comes from the bottom but starts at the top, Leadership needed, and media needs to inform.

Minnesota what can we do with it, this is a commercial, if we had a Tourism and Jobs Czar heading up a Committee for same, it could act as a Qusai Governor to get things done. Minneapolis and St. Paul need to come up with space, controlled space, and new ideas to get people to travel to congregate, eat, attend plays, be entertained and feel safe, hats off to Target for a start, Target Field, batter up.

The Metrodome as a Waterpark and Playground all connected by an “Indoor Skyway Mall” for people 365 days a year, 5 million a year, “outside the box” thinking, make something happen to better your city. St. Paul you got museums, do what Dallas did, combine the “process” so all are viewed as one, Macy’s will probable go and your skyways are a mess and Downtown after 5:30 isn’t, so, a plan not an ice rink.

President Obama is willing to spend the money to “Revitalize” this and that, but if you don’t have the leadership to put together a proposal it won’t happen. This message for City and County Governments.

More Commercial, Tourism and Jobs Czar and Committee, Mall of America, the big one, like it or not the TGIF Friday’s location south of Macy’s and the Mall is a great location for a General Purpose Vikings Stadium with a 100,000 capacity climate controlled movable dome, all a part of a new “Phase 3” Plan. Final Four’s and another Superbowl, a given, indoor Gopher Baseball in March, Monster Trucks and many more uses as the MSFC’s Bill Lester has toured for the Metrodome. And the public money they spent for a Stadium Design, who controls the MSFC, that design could be transferred to a MOA location.

You probably can’t get elected using the word “Stadium” but “Tourism and Jobs” are synonymous with problems that need to be solved and “Moving Minnesota Forward,” so someone with leadership needs to provide some and find a way to get it done, Governor, Legislature, Media, it starts with you.

“Minnesota Government, is it Broke,” we need to fix it and we need to someone to step forward to provide leadership to reorganize this Government, we need a full time Legislature with full time legislator's to schedule and form task forces during the year for the projects and issues that need to be addressed. Not just the “inside the Box,” though they involve sweat, but the outside the box items that involve the “sweat” of being re-elected, they need to be done.

Is it time for a State Constitutional Convention as the National attended by a family forbearer Alexander Hamilton or a State Constitutional Task Force appointed by a joint committee from the Governors Office, The Legislative Branch and the Attorney Generals Office should provide the means to get Bills into legislation for a change to take effect with when the new Legislative Members are sworn in in 2010.

We should take pride that the Constitutional Organization put in place 150 years ago has served us well and now when Minnesota heads further into the 21st Century we can again get on the path that will return Minnesota, and its people, to its rightful position of greatness.

To Leadership, the people of Minnesota we not dumb, if you explain your plan, why you are doing it and the benefits they will understand. You, and they, cannot stand behind “comfortable slogans,” you need to create Plans for Minnesota’s Future and explain, but none of this will happen until we realize “what we need to do” and “make it happen,” make no mistake Minnesota Government it is Broke and you need to fix it.”

A Commentary by: William C. Jewell Jr., Bloomington, MN, May 6, 2009

Note: When we get feedback we will Start a Blog Page in the Right hand column. A TV Channel today showed the Legislature's Approval rating at 36%, the people are just getting tried of it all, it's broke, Legislature time to fix it...

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The Following Sheet was passed to the Legislator's on May 6, 2009 after a heated May 5, 2009, floor "discussion" on a new Ice Rink for Downtown St. Paul and feel it is representative of the lack of Planning that should be the process of the State as it is in most towns around the country...

May 6, 2009

To: Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Legislature, St. Paul/Ramsey County Officials, Media…

Downtown Ice Rink vs. a “New” Downtown Skyway Mall and Riverfront Entertainment Center?

$30 to $50 Million for a Downtown St. Paul Ice Rink that 5,000 people a year would use, is best use for that money and what could we “Get” if we spent that money more effectively???

With $30 to $50 Million both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis could have 1^st in the U.S. “Skyway Malls” and recycle the Metrodome into The World’s Largest Indoor Waterpark & Playground for a total of 10 Million Visitors year, $400 Million in new revenue and 10,000 long term core city jobs.

Macy’s will leave Downtown St. Paul as soon as it can, where will DT St. Paul be? For $30 Million you could build a new store with a “Skyway Mall Plan” that considers Office use, Museum’s, Entertainment, Central Corridor, Union Depot for a “completely new” 21^st Century City for tourism…

SF 2081 is an example of the lack of an “Overall Plan” for Minnesota’s future, its Tourism Industry & a Mechanism for “Planning,” early this session suggested this need to the Legislature:

“Minnesota Tourism and Job Development Czar” There is no State Agency that has a “Specific Group of People” to look at new and innovative ways to create and plan for new tourism and jobs

Development of Skyway Mall's for DT rejuvenation and 10,000 jobs.
Mall of America “Phase 3” Funding for Tourism and 25,000 new Jobs.
Minnesota Inventors Evaluation, Product Placement Comm., 5,000 Jobs.
Plastic Recycling Initiative (PRi) for Quality Regrind and 10,000 new Jobs.
Recycling the Metrodome into a Big Time Tourism Attraction, 5,000 Jobs.

Legislative Research Dept., Fast Track Economic Study of Ice Rink vs. Skyway Mall and Vikings Stadium, Metrodome vs MOA

Vikings & Mall of America “Folks” are roaming the fringes of the Legislature looking for a way to get things done, we need a new Sports and Event Facility and we need to upgrade a 17 year old Mall of America with a “Phase 3” Plan, why not combine both; 99% of the people smile & say yes to that idea…

Medical Marijuana, “Finally” a “Jobs Bill,” “Smokin’…” See California Pharmacy Locations at: http://www.afla1.com/215420/

“Is Minnesota Government Broke?” A written Commentary on that subject will be posted on www.bludog.com hopefully by Friday May 8^th and be submitted to a newspaper for publishing and from now on all “suggestions & such” will be on www.bludog.com only, www.moa3.com will close.

& Minnesota Tourism and Jobs - William C. Jewell Jr., 4575 W. 80^th St. Cir., No. 318, Bloomington, MN 55437 952-835-2492, wmjewell6@yahoo.com

Minnesota is a great State and yet many have written about our "Golden Years" in the 70's when we "were seen as innovative," and now we seem to have lost our Mojo, we have no direction and don't seem to have leadership that is Planning for same.

There seems to be much frustration this year at the Legislature and only the members can say if it's more than usual and due to the structure or the budget and is the poor budget situation a result of the structure? Look forward to those who are closer and have more knowledge to voice their thoughts...

Wm C. Jewell Jr., wmjewell6@yahoo.com

Minnesota Government, Point-to-Point, talking points for Media, Teachers and Students.

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