Politics typically isn't my thing. I prefer feces and fart jokes, which I guess isn't all that far removed from politics.
Still, sometimes news headlines come together in such a way that they're like a total political eclipse, which is to say, it's like being doused in political diarrhea.
And, here in Minnesota, there's been a couple of political eclipses that just scream to be made fun of.
For example, late in March it was reported that there was a bill going through the Minnesota legislature that would rescind an immunity clause granted to lawmakers that makes it okay for them to drive under the influence.
That's right. In our state Constitution, there's a provision that specifically protects legislators from arrest if it impedes their ability to attend and vote on particular matters of state.
If that doesn't strike you as outright crazy, consider this: Senate lawmakers tabled the bill that would have rescinded the law because they decided rescinding the law wasn't necessary.
Therefore, important matters of state--like naming the Minnesota Poet Laureate--can be railroaded through by the governor himself, but the right of lawmakers to speed to the capitol building sloshed on hooch to vote on stuff shall not be abridged.
Speaking about our governor, there was a recent National Public Radio (NPR) interview with Gov. Dayton I unfortunately listened to, during which he sounded like Sylvester the Cat, twirling marbles in his mouth, while suffering a stroke. He made Jesse Ventura sound downright coherent.
Anyway, inebriated voting would certainly explain the other Minnesota political eclipse that caught my attention recently.
The same Minnesota Senate that dragged its feet when it came to rescinding their immunity from drunk driving has been eagerly pursuing their goal to erect a new $90 million legislative office building. Apparently, $90 million is the appropriate amount taxpayers should pay to build a legislative drunk tank.
A $90 million facility for legislators to conduct business that could just as well be conducted from an idling van should strike most people as perhaps a bit excessive, but apparently Minnesota lawmakers think they're entitled to such opulence.
After all, if you're going to table a bill that would rescind your right to drive blitzed like a moonshiner, you should be able to do so from the comfort of a $90 million facility.
Maybe $90 million is a fair trade off if it means keeping our legislators off the public streets.
