Caledonia Argus

Governor wonít talk about budget

Posted: 4/9/02

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Gov. Ventura refuses to discuss the budget with Senate and House leaders, explaining that a political trap awaits him if he does.

Speaking in the Governorís Office Friday, April 5, Ventura explained that his unwillingness to negotiate stems from a refusal to provide political cover and a knowledge of the gamesmanship going on behind the budget debate.

For instance, the Senate wants to hide behind him, he explained, in their effort to raise taxes. And the House wants him as a scapegoat for raising taxes, he said.

ìTheyíre not going to get this from me. Theyíre on their own,î he said.

He already provided all the political cover anyone could want in his January budget proposal, said Ventura. Had they accepted the proposal ó which included tax increases ó he would have taken the heat or reward for everything, he said.

Beyond all this, thereís gubernatorial politics afoot, he indicated.

ìThey want to prove to Minnesota that an Independent (Party) governor doesnít work. And theyíre going to prove the opposite,î he said.

On his weekly radio show, Ventura speculated that the unity between House and Senate ó a co-operation that quickly produced a Phase One budget plan ó will soon unravel.

While not offering a timeframe for a possible special legislative session, Ventura kept the door open for one. It will come down to paying the bills, he explained.

ìIf they donít get the budget fixed and they leave here and we start running out of money, I will call them in to fix it,î said Ventura.

And if the Legislature still fails to fix the budget and the state short of money, then heíll start to unallocate funding, he said.

Turning to the stadium bill, legislation that mirrors a stadium plan forwarded by the administration, Ventura said he still feels reluctance in dealing with the issue.

He chastised Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and the owners for ìgiving us nothing but false promises over and over again.î Major League Baseball has not reformed itself, Ventura explained. And if a stadium bill emerges from the session and a baseball park emerges from that, he personally would not consider the ballpark a legacy of his administration, said Ventura. One things for sure, a stadium bill will not receive an enthusiastic welcome in the Governorís Office before a budget bill reaches his desk.

ìIím very reluctant to sign any bill that gets ahead of the budget, any major bill,î said Ventura.

As for his political futureóa topic of endless speculation at the CapitolóVentura acknowledged that First Lady Terry Ventura doesnít want him to seek reelection and didnít want to run for governor in the first place.

ìShe doesnít like being under the scrutiny weíre under,î said Ventura.

But ultimately, the decision will come down to whether he wants to continue to try other pursuits, he said.

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