“Dueling Forums” was the slug on an Associated Press story this week. The story was about the state’s top political leaders in both parties getting together to talk about the state’s economy and government financial issues.

That’s a good idea, except they weren’t getting together to talk, they were holding their own separate economic summits.

The DFLers who control the Legislature hosted a meeting at the State Capitol with three former governors and former house speakers, senate majority leaders and finance and revenue commissioners, representing both parties.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the state’s top Republican, was not a part of that meeting. He got together in Eden Prairie with several of his commissioners and some other state lawmakers.

So, the two sides who have been butting heads on the budget for the last eight years won’t even sit down and talk to each other about the state’s economic future. Gov. Pawlenty doesn’t want to listen to what the Democrats have to say, and Democrats won’t listen to the governor.

There is little hope than any meaningful progress will be made on state financial issues in the future if the people in control of the state government can’t even sit down at the same table and talk about them for one day.

If this is a duel, then the combatants are shooting themselves in the foot. No one wins.

— The Journal of New Ulm, Sept. 9