State Representative Ken Tschumper
431 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9278
For Immediate Release
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Posted: 4/8/2008
NEWS COLUMN
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY USES CHATFIELD BRASS AS POLITICAL PINCUSHION
Monday, Governor Tim Pawlenty cut $400 thousand in funding from the State Bonding Bill for the Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library. For unexplainable reasons, this Governor used his line-item veto power to cancel support for an internationally renowned treasure.
The Republican Governor added insult to injury when he referred to the Legislature's funding of the project as "inconceivable," and discounted the project's legitimacy. To me, what is inconceivable is that Governor Pawlenty could be so shortsighted. This relatively small investment would have been extremely beneficial to the Chatfield area. Instead, the Governor decided to play politics with the interests of Chatfield.
The Chatfield Brass Band Lending Library has the best collection of brass band sheet music in North America. It is a priceless collection accumulated over the last fifty years. It regularly provides copies and real pieces of America's greatest marching and orchestra music to requests from every state and many foreign countries. The current building is completely filled with collection pieces that are in dire need of cataloging and preservation.
I am extremely disappointed with Governor Pawlenty's decision. This proposal had bi-partisan support on the Bonding Committee. In addition to preserving this collection of rare music it would have created some business and employment for local businesses and employees. Nearly everyone in Minnesota except the Governor understands that we need more investment and job creation in our state.
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The Bonding Bill approved by the Governor using his line-item veto included millions of dollars for the Iron Range, the Twin Cities and Rochester. The total amount approved was $717 million.