We can't say that this wasn't predictable. Indeed, Bluestem had predicted it with our headline, Range trust: state senator scores job creating content for 2016 outside group IE attack mail.
In his capacity as head of the Minnesota Action Network (an political nonprofit which exists solely to promote Republicans over DFLers), former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman writes in The indefensible, a letter to the editor published in Saturday's Mesabi Daily News:
News that DFL State Sen. David Tomassoni — a DFLer from Chisholm — has taken a job that will pay him to be essentially a lobbyist while he remains an elected official — isn’t only shocking to the occupants of a chicken coop being guarded by a fox.
Taxpayers of Minnesota might well feel an affinity to those chickens based upon published news reports that Tomassoni will be the executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools — a group that lobbies the Legislature on behalf of Iron Range communities.
To be clear, I have no objections to the right of Iron Range communities to actively lobby on behalf of the people of their region.
The fact is many of those communities would do well to have a more effective voice in Saint Paul — both in terms of their elected representatives — but also in terms of the lobbyists who support their goals and aspirations.
But, having the best of both worlds — a state senator responsible for voting on laws that can directly benefit them, who is also paid by a lobbying organization who will be rewarded for delivering the votes on laws that can directly benefit them — is a line that simply cannot be allowed to be crossed.
This isn’t a DFL or Republican issue as evidenced by the fact that a couple of Minnesota Republicans are defending Tomassoni for his odd rationale that guarding the purse and putting his hand in the purse is a right he should be able to exercise. . .
Defenders of Sen. Tomassoni have no leg to stand on.
Regardless of their party affiliation.
If Sen. Tomassoni is so effective at his job as being a state senator he should simply deliver to his district the promises he made for the money the taxpayers of his district — and the state — are already paying him.
If he is not, then he should quit and become the full-time executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools and accomplish what he has been incapable of doing as an elected official.
But to suggest he is entitled to be both a public servant — and exploit the fact that he is a public servant — to enrich himself is beneath his office.
And, it’s beneath defending. . . .
Now, one could attack Coleman's own ethics. Or we might cite--as some DFLers have on social media-- Senators' entanglements do not pass the smell test, Jon Tevlin's column linking Tomassoni's dual-career track with the recent disclosure of Cambridge Republican state Senator Nienow's October 2014 bankruptcy settlement which forgave a loan from the Small Business Association.
Moreover it's clear from the article that the Cambridge Republican's sin is hypocrisy, rather than corruption, and those who read the column carefully will realize Tevlin's not scolding Nienow in order to excuse the Range DFLer.
Most importantly, pivoting to a "both sides do it" frame isn't a winning argument.
Instead, it's the sort of talking point that breeds contempt for government--and dampens voter turnout. In a representative democracy (or representative republic), distaste for government breeds more corruption, not less.
Bluestem hopes that DFLers in the Senate set their own house in order. Tomassoni needs to decide which job he wants, and give the other up.
Then there's the other dual office problem now damaging the Senate DFL Caucus.
Senator Bakk needs to lead, not deal, on the stalemate on offices in the Senate Legislative Office Building and in the Capitol. Committee chairs don't need two offices. Let them enjoy meeting with senators of both parties in the new building.
Want to avoid perceptions of self dealing? Then don't do it.
Photo: State Senator David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm).
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Cue Tom Bakk whining about meddling Twin Cities types who don't understand Da Range in 5...4...3...2...
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Jan 19, 2015 at 11:38 PM