Governor Envy, Part 337

Now up to bat to show Ohio what leadership is really like, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty:

The plan, released Monday, would erase a $1.2 billion state deficit largely through deep cuts in aid to local governments, in funding for health and human services and with an average 6 percent across-the-board cut to state agencies, likely to result in layoffs. Nearly one-third of the governor's budget fix would rely on $387 million in federal stimulus money. That money isn't yet in the bank and, if it doesn't come through, the cuts could be far deeper.

Pawlenty also proposed corporate and small-business tax cuts. The cost -- and benefit -- of those reductions wouldn't fully materialize until after he leaves office next year.

Now, while I'm not a fan of using stimulus dollars in this way, there is such a thing as compromise in American politics, and considering what he's trying to get through, I'm willing to give him a pass.

These kinds of cuts aren't easy to make. In the short-run, they seem politically impossible to pull off, but in the long-run Minnesotans will be far better off with a more efficiently run state government and a much more welcoming tax climate for businesses to come in and hire.

Pawlenty nails it with this line:

"This is a spit in the ocean compared to what should be done," Pawlenty said at a Capitol news conference announcing his proposals.

Yep. Much more does need done to fix how out-of-control state government has been run over the years. And Ohio needs John Kasich to come in to fix the problem Ted Strickland refuses to even acknowledge exists.