How fickle Minnesotans are.
Facing a $6 billion state budget deficit that a DFL-led Legislature and a Republican governor couldn't solve, Minnesotans on Tuesday elected a Republican-led Legislature and (apparently, pending a recount) a Democratic governor.
The end result could be the same -- gridlock.
Could be, we say, as we hope that such a wide turnover will erase animosities and have both sides sit down and do the public's work. Neither side can continue to play games with the numbers, proposing billion-dollar tax increases or in thinking that freezing the budget won't raise local property taxes and put more people out of work.
If the Republicans are to lead, they will have to come up with a new form of government that answers the people's needs -- not wants -- and is fully funded to do so. No gimmicks, no shifts, no delayed payments, no borrowing against our grandchildren's future.
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We hope that roles aren't reversed, that the DFL now becomes the party of "no" rather than finding political compromise to complete the public's work. And the GOP must be willing to bend also, in order to advance its agenda.
If not, there's another election in two years ...
