With all the business that Minnesota needs to accomplish at the state Legislature, we’re disappointed in an effort by one lawmaker to designate the Tilt-A-Whirl the official amusement ride of the state.
Minnesota Rep. Patti Fritz, DFL-Faribault, has introduced a bill designating the Tilt-A-Whirl the official amusement ride in Minnesota. She says she’s taking up the cause of 52 kindergarten students from her district who say it deserves special attention because it was invited in their town.
Said Fritz: “I represent children, too.” She added that Minnesotans like to have fun, and it’s a fun thing to do.
OK, so we Minnesotans like to have fun. But do we need to spend the precious time lawmakers are in session to designate a state ride when there’s so many other important issues to consider?
Yes, Patti, you do represent children, too. So spend your time in session deciding how to improve the K-12 education system and finding money to pay for it.
And what about health care issues, which are certainly important to children, especially those not covered by insurance.
How about concentrating on tax increases proposed that could hit businesses hard and proposals to ratchet up income taxes, not just for the wealthy but for the average working people.
The Tilt-A-Whirl was first introduced at the Minnesota State Fair and Sellner Manufacturing in Faribault continues to manufacture the ride. Faribault should be proud of that. How about a statue in city square of the ride’s inventor with a free spin on the ride for visitors?
So while Minnesota already has a state muffin, gemstone, drink, butterfly, and seven other official symbols, we urge lawmakers to move on to the real business of the state in this session and let Faribault decide how best to celebrate its claim to fame.