LGA Cuts - Is The Governor Talking To States Mayors?

May 6, 2010
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Marty Owings

Have you ever wondered if the Governor meets with the States Mayors to discuss the cuts he's proposing for their cities? After all the Governor has made some time recently to travel across the country speaking to various other officials as he unofficially explores a run at the Presidency.

This isn't to say anyone should expect a busy Governor from any state to meet with the Mayors of its cities and towns, but in a fiscal crisis the likes of which we've haven't seen since the Great Depression, you'd think it might help ease the worry a bit or at least soften the blow. Especially if your talking about reducing their aid as much as 90% in some cases.

It might not be so concerning to these folks if the counties, towns and cities that were being cut hadn't come to depend on the funds for such things as basic infrastructure. For instance they use the money for things like roads, bridges, fire and police. In a sense, the Governor is telling them to live with less regardless of the consequences, but as it turns out he's not even delivering the news himself.

At any rate, I decided to do a little reaching out of my own to see if the Governor had spoken to any of the State's Mayors about the cuts. I'll be the first to admit that my sample is unscientific, I did speak with Mayors all around the state, about thirty in all and only one, Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman had actually met with the Governor to discuss the cuts.

Here is the audio from my contacts:
Click Here For The Audio.

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