Another peek into Draz's cabinet of walnuttery: cutting those he promised legislative loving

In this morning's Winona Daily News, Bill McMillan shares his experience at one of Representative Steve Drazkowski's town halls when he asked a question about closing tax loopholes for corporations. And since the Rochester Post Bulletin has now shared that Draz's Deform 2.0 meeting is Thursday, Bluestem recommends that readers go get their own precious memory with the Draz.

In What are Rep. Drazkowski’s priorities?, the Kellogg MN man shares the answer with readers of the Winona Daily News:

I asked Drazkowski if it was true he voted against legislation that would have raised revenue by closing tax loopholes for corporations making money in Minnesota but sheltering it in tax havens overseas. (The Minnesota Department of Revenue estimates the amount to be $90 million per year.) He said he opposed this legislation because it would have meant “raising taxes” on those corporations and he was opposed to raising taxes of any kind. I think most Minnesotans would not consider this “raising taxes,” but as requiring those corporations to pay their fair share.

It's been said the most radical idea in America is a long memory. McMillan demonstrates why when he reminds readers of priorities Draz claimed before the last session:

Before the session began, Drazkowski stated in a guest editorial: “Personally, my top priorities are our kids, our elderly and vulnerable adults, our roads and bridges and public safety.”

Perhaps when he proposed chopping down black walnut trees in state parks, he was only thinking of the children.

McMillin points out some selective amnesia in Draz's votes. A couple of choice examples (read the rest in the Daily News):

In March 2011, Drazkowski was one of only 16 of the 134 State Representatives to vote for a $19 cut per pupil to our schools.

This year, Drazkowski voted to drastically limit the number of people allowed to get Elderly and Developmental Disability Waivers for individuals needing care in a facility such as a community-based group home. (About one-third the cost of nursing home care)

He voted to cut the renters tax credit. (According to a recent survey, 27 percent of households in Minnesota are rented) this would result in a $170 increase in these households, which tend to be low income and elderly.

And readers may remember another one of Draz's cost-saving recommendations for care of the vulnerable: replacing group home staff with baby monitors.

Perhaps Draz is the sort who only cuts those he loves, but Bluestem thinks the Mazeppa lawmaker simply forgot to share ALEC's agenda with the MNGOP caucus staff writer who drafted the column.

The Rochester Post Bulletin has finally shared the date for the local stop this week of The Draz Traveling ALEC Reform 2.0 Medicine Show. (Of course, it's been online on the Olmsted County GOP's calendar for awhile).

Bluestem hopes readers in the Rochester area will attend and give suggestions for reforming government, though perhaps Draz and his Republican friends only want to hear suggestions that are already in the ALEC corporate bill factory's "State Budget Reform Toolkit."

Check it out--these are the best ideas money can buy.

Image: Tild's chocolate drazombie bunny.

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