Here's a letter to the editor from State Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield:
If you want to see an example of partisanship at its worst, check out the ongoing hearings at the State Capitol regarding the Legislature’s Transportation Funding Contingency Group (TFCG).
This group has one task: Approving appropriation authority for unanticipated revenue from the federal government and ensuring that it is allocated to specific projects. In this case, the unexpected revenue is $250 million from the federal government to help rebuild the I-35W bridge.
Because Congress’ transportation bill is delayed, only $55 million of that federal funding has arrived. Until the rest of the funding shows up, Governor Pawlenty has asked this panel to allow MnDOT to spend an additional $195 million in state funds so the I-35W bridge can be financed without delaying other road and bridge projects.
Once the federal money arrives, it would pay back Minnesota’s temporary contribution. In other words, it’s a lot like a farmer who takes out a loan at the beginning of the planting season and pays it off after he cashes in his crops.
Again, the only thing this panel can, and is required by statute to do is recognize the federal money is coming in for the I-35W bridge and allow those funds to be used for its reconstruction.
Instead, House and Senate Democrats on this panel have made it a partisan dog-and-pony show, attempting to repeatedly make the nightly news by questioning the construction decisions made by MnDOT, and its commissioner, Republican Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau.
Let’s not forget we already have standing committees in place to review transportation funding and to investigate the I35W bridge collapse, but that’s not good enough.
The Democrats are using this panel in order to take a partisan pot-shot at Governor Pawlenty because the transportation funding package he supported did not include a gas tax increase - which they desperately wanted included. It appears their witch hunt has now led them to Molnau.
Senate leadership is already saying they will vote to reject Molnau as transportation commissioner when we return in 2008, and in light of this, the House Speaker has called for her resignation.
It is interesting that the Senate has waited for years until they could find something to hang over Molnau’s head before stating that she will not be confirmed. You would think the Senate would objectively debate a nominee based on merits - not wait until a controversial issue arrived so members could vote based on partisanship and emotion.
Historically, there have been many appointees rejected by the Full Senate since 1935, (many have served without ever being confirmed) but only three were commissioner candidates - Steve Minn twice in 2000 (nominated for the Departments of Commerce and Public Service) and Cheri Pierson Yecke for the Department of Education in 2004. Yecke was rejected about half way through her first term. Molnau has served as transportation commissioner for five years.
In the past, I’ve favored legislation requiring the Senate to confirm a commissioner nominee within a certain amount of time. It also may be time to review whether or not to eliminate the TFCG. It clearly can be an ineffective, bureaucratic nightmare that impedes MnDOT from doing its job in critical situations. Plus, as we've seen, it's far too easy to hijack the process and turn it into a drawn-out political circus, which is exactly what we don't need during a crisis like rebuilding the I-35W bridge.
The Senate should not be cherry picking and using hindsight when confirming commissioners. Not only is it poor public policy, it’s also poor statesmanship - quite similar to the political shenanigans currently taking place at the TFCG hearings.
State Rep. Randy Demmer
R-Hayfield