Blowing Hot and Cold

DFL Senator Steve Murphy on global warming:

"I'm converted," said Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, about the need for acting on global warming.

DFL Senator Steve Murphy on global cooling:

At the Capitol, Democrats criticized Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration over what they described as a poor response to the snowfall.

[Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy] said he hoped people would use the harried commute as reason to urge passage of a gas tax and other funding streams that previously ran into a Pawlenty veto.

Well, at least he's consistent. It gets hotter? It gets colder? The government needs to do something! ANYTHING!!!

A brief review of the past few weeks in the life of Sen. Murphy shows he's for doing anything in a lot of areas. Legalizing drugs:

State Sen. Steve Murphy and other Minnesota lawmakers are making another run at passing a medical marijuana bill. Lawmakers have introduced similar bills several times in recent years, though none have ever come close to final approval.

Criminalizing the sale of non-approved American flags:

State Senator Steve Murphy wants Minnesotans to go ahead and buy all the American flag merchandise they want. Just as long as it's made in the United States.

The DFLer from Red Wing and three other state senators, one of them Republican, have introduced legislation that would prohibit the sale of foreign-made flag merchandise in Minnesota.

Criminalizing the non use of seat belts:

A bill is moving through the legislature to make not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense, meaning police can pull cars over and issue a ticket for it. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, said the statistics say a seatbelt will save a person's life.

"If you're in a vehicle and going down the road and not wearing your seatbelt, you're an idiot, period," he said.

For his own sake, he better hope they don't make being an idiot a criminal offense.

The Elder Waxes Nostalgically: Remember the good ol' days when the weather was just...the weather? When every unusual weather event wasn't blamed on us? When the reason that a snow fall caused traffic problems was...the snow?