North Star Politics

"Surplus" is the key word. How long it is actually a surplus is the unknown:

$700 million is, by law, committed to repay the money stripped from education to "fix" the deficit. "Shell game" might be a better term (i.e. pass the buck and borrow money for a short-term cure).

$400 million is in limbo due to the fee/tax gimmick.

Suddenly, despite Pawlenty's "leadership" (another term I use loosely), we again have a deficit.

Members who would join the MIIET would presumably need to be replaced; I'm assuming that there would be a net gain of ten officers, plus equipment, training, etc. Not huge, but something. Prosecuting all these new offenses that are mentioned will certainly cost a fair amount of money, and the increased police officer work will be significant, especially on already cash-strapped cities (from Pawlenty's LGA cuts).