GOP Holds Firm - Upholds Pawlenty Veto

John at Power Line gives Governor Tim Pawlenty credit where it's due: holding firm on reining in DFL spending despite the hysterics over GAMC budget cuts:

Pawlenty is a gutsy administrator, as demonstrated most recently by his line item veto of $381 million for a health care program for low-income adults. This, of course, was part of his overall effort to balance the state's budget, as is constitutionally required. But the Democrats reacted predictably; they tried to stir up hysteria in the press and made a strong effort to override the governor's veto.

Thankfully, enough Republicans stood firm and upheld the veto. DFL and other activists attempted tugging on public heartstrings, denouncing Pawlenty of not caring for the poor. But they didn't tell the public that some will still qualify and some are being moved to Minnesota Care and other programs. They also have difficulty with the reality of math: the GAMC program would have ballooned from $550 million in the 2008-2009 budget cycle to $748 million in the next biennium - equaling an unsustainable program.

Pawlenty said up to 15,000 of those clients may qualify for the Minnesota Care program, which is fee-based and subsidized by a tax on health care providers instead of the state's general fund dollars.

"We're the only state in the nation that has a program like this," he said, "We have the most generous social service, welfare and publicly subsidized health care in the country. But they're growing out of control and we can't wait until they bankrupt us."

We have a duty to care for the poor, but we differ on the means to care for them in a fiscally responsible manner. If DFL legislators cannot figure out how to cut spending and resorting to theatrics to get their way, I'll be happy to send them a carton of tissues when they become the minority party this November.