|
The Strom Forecast
The President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, David Strom, sees bright horizons for state GOP
David Strom came before a crowd of over seventy Republicans Tuesday night before Thanksgiving with much to be thankful. President George W. Bush had won re-election, the United States Senate had four more Republicans and Minnesota had defended the congressional seats of its four Republicans. So what was Strom most thankful?
“I’m glad this time, the taller man didn’t win.”
Strom may be short in height but is tall in stature among Republicans, conservatives and people of all political strips. But it was Strom who felt honored Tuesday night, speaking before the Senate District 41 Republicans. “I don’t know if you realize how extraordinary this is”, Strom said, referring to the SD’s monthly dinners. “Gatherings like this form the heart and soul of this democracy.”
Despite the narrow Bush loss in Minnesota in 2004, Strom continues to see much progress for the GOP in the Gopher State. “Twelve years ago, independents made up roughly 25% of the vote in the state. In 1996, they made up 12%. In 2000 they were about 6%. In 2004, they were less than 1%…..the GOP is at about 49% and the state is becoming redder and redder.”
But Strom wasn’t interested in focusing too long on the past. The eyes of the Taxpayers League are firmly on 2006, which is, as Strom describes it, “for all the marbles.” With campaigns for Governor, Senator, State House, Senate and all the Constitutional officers, Strom predicted the 2006 election to be even nastier than 2004.
“We’ve been running the state on auto pilot for 20 years, and taxes have increased at 20% clips, doubling every five years.” Strom said state and local government hirings are double the rate of other employers in part because the average salary for state workers is higher than the average in the private sector. “You used to think that working for government meant greater job security but lousy pay. That’s not the case anymore.” One in five Minnesotans work for the government.
Strom described Governor Tim Pawlenty’s first two years as “just putting the brakes on” state government. Pawlenty and the House have just started government reform and it’s needed now more than ever. According to Strom, 80% of the state budget will be consumed by K-12 and Health and Human Services within the next 15 years unless both programs are changed. The very size of those programs dictates why the 2006 election may be the nastiest yet. “We’re fighting for abstract values---they’re fighting for their paycheck.”
Tidbits:
Strom on those infamous 527’s: “I hope that any of you who had any delusions that campaign finance reform was going to improve anything learned the fallacy of that thinking….we now have a problem [the 527’s] that’s worse than ever.” Strom wondered if the financial resources that made many of the 527’s possible will be present in 2006.
On 2004: “I’m in spin…but you never spin yourself.” Strom was upfront about the 527’s and the Democrats’ impact on Hennepin and Olmsted Counties in particular. But Strom doesn’t believe fiscal conservatism took a hit in this election: “I’m a bigger believer in message clarity. Who are you with? Whose side are you on?” Strom pointed to several examples of fiscal conservatives doing well in 2004, saying that mostly moderate Republicans were the ones that lost or did poorly.
Despite Pawlenty’s fiscal management without raising taxes, Minnesota is the 2nd highest taxed state in the nation.
Strom on SD 41 State Senator Geoff Michel: “A rising star” in the party. “Geoff is on many people’s minds as Majority Leader in two years.”
|
|
Minnesota Senate District 41 Republicans
Edina Community Center, Suite 323, 5701 Normandale Road, Edina, Minnesota 55424
phone - (952) 848-4272 / fax - (952) 848-4271
|
|
E-mail: sd41gop@hotmail.com
|
