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For Immediate Release - March 17, 2004
 

REP. OTTO LETTER TO THE EDITOR: WASTE NOT WANT NOT

In Local Government Committee the other day, I was astounded when yet another Republican member brought forward a bill to grow government waste. This one gives an $80,000 annual raise to Vicky Grunseth, the Chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC).

When I questioned this I was assured that the MAC, largely funded by Northwest Airlines, was in good shape. Northwest was flush, and the MAC could afford to do this. The member argued that the pay raise would provide “greater accountability.” I wondered if that meant that Ms Grunseth wasn’t performing with full accountability right now. Conversely, I wondered why, if more pay equals greater accountability, we aren’t we paying teachers and principals more? Wouldn’t that solve all our education problems?

Maybe it’s that Ms Grunseth is simply way underpaid for what she does. But I checked, and her qualifications are nothing to sing praises about. She comes from a telecommunications company that is in disrepute. Former chair Sandy Grieve was highly qualified, and did a wonderful job for the lower salary. So why pay $80,000 more? If the pay is not enough for Ms Grunseth, there are several others who are more qualified and who would be willing to take her position for the lower pay. I offered to make some referrals.

After my protests, the committee went ahead and voted for her raise anyway, on a party line vote, throwing all principles of fiscal conservatism out the window. The next day on the radio it was announced that, far from being “flush,” Northwest is going to cut 950 jobs because they need to cut costs.

So I’m left wondering: where are our priorities as a state? We give $80,000 raises to high paid political appointees, and so far this year we’ve cut 2000 teachers who actually produce for Minnesota. The Democrats have a bill that tries to continue to streamline government and cuts back on many of these fat cat political appointments. It’s a good bill and deserves bi-partisan support. These are taxpayer dollars and they need to be used wisely in tight times, and that means cutting administration, not adding fat to it.