A Cold Argentina

When Minnesota’s Democrats (or DFL, Democrat-Farmer-Labor as we style them in the North Star state) brought in one-party rule for the first time in a generation, the state knew it was in for a change.

Last week blogger Mitch Berg cautioned against those of us in opposition using up too much activist energy too early in this legislative session, lest we have nothing left for the more important issues during the big push at the end.

He’s right.  Even worse, he had no idea of the avalanche headed our way.  Each day sees at last two economy-devastating pieces of legislation introduced.

Flood the Zone

Take yesterday as an example.  A state senate committee voted to shut down an entire industry (sand mining), a house committee considered a crippling new renewable energy mandate, and the dome saw a union rally in support of a far left agenda.  Not bad for a Tuesday.

Wednesday will see the return of those familiar divisive social issues, and debates on a higher minimum wage, higher transit taxes, more trains, and higher income taxes, among dozens of other topics.  No wonder members are falling asleep, they must be exhausted.

Blue state basket cases like California, New York, and Illinois got that way over a period of decades:  crippling progressive policies were introduced one at a time.  Minnesota’s DFL majority appears committed to be getting there in a single legislative session.

Whereas the economies in deep blue states had time to adjust to each fresh assault on capitalism, Minnesota’s economy will need to adjust to a generation’s worth in a single season.  I fear that our economy is not resilient enough to withstand this extreme legislative shock.

The question is:  what did Minnesota’s voters think they were buying by voting in the DFL in 2012?  Based on the campaign rhetoric of DFL "pro-business" moderates, who gave the Democrats the majority by sweeping the suburban swing districts, the casual voter would have been led to believe that an almost Republican agenda was on offer:  paying back the school shift, cutting wasteful spending, and keeping taxes low.  The very observant voter may have picked up on the possibility of some higher taxes (for the sake of “balance") and a few more “investments” in key spending areas.

As I wrote earlier, those voters waiting for a DFL pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda are waiting in vain:  none is forthcoming.  Those hoping for a “kinder, gentler” but still pro-business agenda are deluding themselves.

A pessimist may have feared that every progressive group’s top priority would have been enacted into law in 2013.  As it turns out, it’s not just the top priorities, it’s not just the bottom priorities: every progressive idea ever developed appears ready to be translated into Minnesota law before Memorial Day.

Much of this flurry is driven, no doubt, by the electoral calendar.  DFL Governor Mark Dayton is up for re-election in 2014, as is the DFL-controlled state House of Representatives.  However, the DFL-controlled state Senate will not face voters again until 2016. 

Thus, regardless of the 2014 election outcome, there is no chance any of this year’s legislation could be reversed before 2017.  And there is always some chance that, if the DFL majority were to wait, their bills would be blocked by a new Republican governor or state House.  So, the time is now.

Even if Minnesota had a skeptical, adversarial media, no outlet could keep up with coming tsunami of progressive initiatives.  Just like 2010’s Obamacare at the Federal level, we will be discovering new and unpleasant aspects to laws passed in 2013 for years to come.

As we set a new land speed record racing to establish a progressive paradise, other states are not following our lead.  Author Joel Kotkin writes in the Wall Street Journal this week about “America’s Red State Growth Corridors.”  He mentions Minnesota, but only to point out we are one of the few states raising—not cutting—taxes.  We are racing into a bold new future, but somehow we are still being left behind.

I imagine our progressive overlords believe that the populace will awaken this autumn, thankful that the state has been transformed into the next Vermont.  Perhaps, but I can’t shake the feeling that a cold Argentina is the more likely outcome.