Nick Coleman: For Red Lake, prayers, then politics as usual

[GettysbergII]

Not sure if this was already posted but the hypocrisy is just stunning.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5313870.html
<snip>
Last Tuesday, Minnesota's political leaders took part in an emotional
ceremony on the steps of the State Capitol to pray for the victims of the school shooting on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. When the prayers were over, they went back into the Capitol and cut millions from a plan to build a new school for Red Lake.

It was a shocking act of tasteless bad timing and worse politics, but for people of color and especially for Minnesota's Indians, it probably seemed like business as usual: Talk is cheap, and politics is all about money. In that equation, politicians always find praying easier than paying.
Here's what happened:

[NYC]

1. That is scandalous.

I hadn't seen this.

...One hangup was a $24 million replacement for the unhealthy and moldy middle school at Red Lake. When the session began, Senate DFLers and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty agreed to fund the school plan but House Republicans had not. They started at zero but had agreed to spend $20 million on a new school before word reached the Capitol of Monday's carnage that included Red Lake High School...

...Most legislators expected that after the traumatic events of the previous 24 hours, everyone would approve full funding for a new school. So they were stunned when the lead Republican negotiator, Rep. Dan Dorman of Albert Lea, announced a new plan that included just $14 million for a Red Lake school -- $10 million short of the estimated cost, and $6 million short of their previous position...

[GettysbergII]

2. Scandalous is right. Here's the part that really gets me

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5313870.html

Insulting Indian tribes is an ancient tradition in American politics. For some people, it comes naturally.

So when it was time to put their money where their prayers had been two hours earlier, the Republicans set aside their grief in favor of projects nearer to Pawlenty's heart. One was a secure nursing home for aging sex offenders for which the governor wants full funding even though a site has yet to be selected. Another is a prison expansion in Faribault.

In the state we are in, prisons are easier to build than schools.

[NYC]

3. I thought about that part all night.

It is just haunting.

[dflprincess]

4. I saw this in the Star Tribune last week and was sickened by it

BTW for anyone who reads this who is not all that familiar with Minnesota Colemans. Nick Coleman is NOT related to that weasel senator, Norm Coleman.