Fraters Libertas

Let’s Not Forget Ol’ Gil

The Washington Times reports on some fiscal conservatism in action:

Rep. Gil Gutknecht, Minnesota Republican, has returned more than $100,000 of his 2002 office budget to the general fund.

"We try to run a tight ship," says the congressman. "I'm always cognizant of the fact that we are spending taxpayers' dollars. This office doesn't belong to my staff and me." Those are rare words coming from a congressman. But what's really worth noting is that since Mr. Gutknecht was first elected to Congress in 1994, he has returned more than $800,000 in taxpayer funds — money other congressmen have no trouble spending — to the general piggy bank.

"If we expect other federal agencies to be more fiscally responsible," as the congressman explains it, "we have to do so ourselves."

Good to see some publicity on this rhetorically conservative Congressman putting his money where his mouth is. But this appeared in the Washington Times. It would be nice to get a little hometown coverage for this refreshing bit of efficient government. My laborious search of the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle archives reveal nary a word on it.

Media bias? Maybe. Or perhaps Gil Gutknecht is just a really bad salesman when attempting to publicize his good works to the media. And that premise gives me another excuse to quote some Simpson’s dialog. Specifically, the best of Gil and his efforts to make a sale:

While attempting to sell Homer a new car:

Go ahead, drool all you want, you can't hurt that finish. Now rainwater, that will strip it right off, so ... aw, I shouldn't have said that ... aw, Gil.

While attempting to sell Principal Skinner and Lisa computers for their school:

D'ah, she's a beut'. You can't beat a Coleco, eh ...? How many can I put ya' down for, a lot? Please say a lot, I need this. ... let's not forget ol' Gil, huh? The wolf's at old Gil's door.

Lisa: Oooh ... I guess I don't have much choice.

Gil: Aw, thank God! Now, let's talk rust-proofing. These Colecos'll rust up on ya' like ‘that,’ er ... shut up, Gil. Close the deal ... close the deal!

(Via James Phillips - who is NOT in prison. Sometimes he just feels that way.)

UPDATE: This just in - the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle still doesn't have any Gil Gutknecht news. However, since it's the newspaper of record for Rochester, NEW YORK, I'm personally absolving them of any charges of media bias (in this regard). The newspaper of record in Rochester, Minnesota (the main city in Gutknecht's 1st Congressonal District) is The Post-Bulletin. But they haven't mentioned anything either (at least in their electronic archives) so THEY are now officially on the watch list.