Supreme Court: Pawlenty overstepped authority on unallotment

[dpbrown]

Source: Minnesota Public Radio

Supreme Court: Pawlenty overstepped authority on unallotment
by Elizabeth Dunbar, Minnesota Public Radio
May 5, 2010

St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Gov. Tim Pawlenty overstepped his authority when he made unilateral cuts last year to balance the state's budget.

In a 4-3 opinion written by Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson, the court said Pawlenty's decision to cut a nutrition program came before the budget-making process was completed.

Read more: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/05/05/unallotment-ruling/

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Governor Pawlenty usurped the role of the legislature by cutting the Minnesota budget unilaterally.

[Brickbat]

1. Hot damn.

[Soylent Brice]

2. K&R

[Oceansaway]

3. K&R...n/t

[wizstars]

4. He thought the Constitution was just a G--D------- piece of paper.....

so he wiped his a55 with it.

Like every other Repig-lickin does.

[SoapBox]

11. Shred Baby Shred!

Under Democratic leadership, the Constitution became the center element of all Republican arguments.

Under Republican leadership, it was a race to the paper shredder with the Constitution.

[Dappleganger]

5. Checks and balances, Baby!

Party of 'small government', my ass.

[No Elephants]

6. The only thing he could find to cut from the entire state budget was a nutrition program?

[activa8tr]

13. Maybe someone should cut off HIS nutrition!

How about putting him on bread and water for a few weeks?

See how he likes THEM APPLEs

[ShockediSay]

19. God Forbid he should add a light tax on Country Club types to feed the poor

I think it was in the New Testament that it was written

if one man has two coats and another none, the man with

two coats should give one coat to the other person {or

words to that effect}

Anybody got a citation for me?

[Eyerish]

7. K&R

[Cha]

8. Good! That he got busted. nt

[florida08]

9. ruh roh

[SoapBox]

10. Timmey done got SLAPPED!

[glinda]

12. He is still pushing for more cuts because he uses the excuse "well the money from

the Government never came in because it was held up or did not pass". Thanks to HIS fellow Republicans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Timmy the Tool would be worse than Bush because not only is he a lier and conniving but he has part of a brain.

[rbixby]

14. I'm so glad he's out of here this year

I can't stand the guy, and all of this grandstanding the past 4 years has just been so he can use his record to run for president. His presidential aspirations came on the backs of all of us Minnesotans.

[dpbrown]

15. Hopefully this will let some of the air out of his Presidential sails

Can you imagine if bridges all over the nation just started falling into the river like the I-35W bridge did?

[wellstone dem]

16. It's a wonderful decision.

Be sure to read it.

And importantly, it is written by the Chief Justice, who is a relatively recent Pawlenty appointee. I've always respected Justice Magnuson, but never more than today.

[wellstone dem]

17. And the GOP candidate for Governor blames the GOP appointed court for "activism"

http://minnesotaindependent.com/58493/emmer-slams-gop-heavy-supreme-court-for-judicial-activism

GOP-endorsed candidate Tom Emmer said Wednesday that the decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court overturning Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s unallotments is the work of activist judges. “In the latest example of judicial activism, the Minnesota Supreme Court, in a narrow 4-3 decision, took it upon itself to rewrite the unallotment statute to their liking by adding conditions on the executive branch that do not exist in the current statute,” Emmer wrote in a statement. However, five of the justices on the court were appointed by Republicans and four were appointed by Pawlenty. None of the current justices were appointed by DFLers.

Chief Justice Eric Magnuson was appointed by Pawlenty and prior to his appointment worked as partner in a law firm with Pawlenty. Justice Christopher J. Dietzen was appointed by Pawlenty and was a lawyer for Pawlenty’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Justice Paul H. Anderson was appointed by former Gov. Arne Carlson, a Republican, and was active in Republican politics prior to his appointment. Justice Lorie Gildea was appointed by Pawlenty, and her husband, Andy, works for the House GOP Caucus. Justice G. Barry Anderson was appointed by Pawlenty and was active in Republican politics before his appointment.

That leaves Justice Alan Page, who was elected to the position and has in the past given money to Democratic candidates, and Justice Helen M. Meyer, who was appointed by former Gov. Jesse Ventura.

[wellstone dem]

18. And more reaction

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2010/05/unallotment_rea.shtml?refid=0

[Thor_MN]

20. Who is pathetic now, timmy?

The reason the legislature is struggling with the budget bills is that they know you are going to have another little tantrum and try to do it your way.