Right on

Gov. Jesse Ventura has been at his best as governor when he has cut through all the political (red tape) to find the common sense core of an issue.

He has done just that with Republican Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty's proposal to shift some local government aid money already pledged to cities and counties to help plug an immediate $356 million budget deficit.

Ventura had the authority to stop such a shift of funds.

That money was promised to local governments and they have already budgeted and allocated funds based on that promise. To take that money away now would be unfair, the governor said.

Good way to go out, Jesse. Right on.

--The Mesabi Daily News of Virginia