A profile in courage?

With regard to Governor Pawlenty's possible agreement with a five-cent per gallon increase in Minnesota's gas tax, DFL Senator Steve Murphy prattles:

"We've got a long way to go from five cents, but at least the governor is making the move in the right direction," Murphy said. "I think that the more people find out what the depth and breadth of this problem is, they're going to be more willing to listen."

Murphy said that a nickel increase falls short because "five cents raises $150 million and we have over a $3 billion underfunding in transportation a year."

Still, he said, Pawlenty is showing courage.

What courage does it take to exact even more money from hard working Minnesotans' pockets, when the need isn't there? I admit, it takes chutzpah; but is the forced, unnecessary redistribution of wealth really an act of courage?

On the other hand, I wonder if Steve Murphy would consider it an act of courage if he and his fellow-DFLers would finally clamp down on profligate spending and actually seek to tighten the government's belt, for a change.

That would be a twist.

While the Strib is predictably salivating over the possibility of a special session and free-for-all spending spree, the organ from the other side of the metro seems to say, "not so fast!"

Perhaps true "courage" will win out after all.

Or more accurately, a lack of chutzpah.