The MNGOP has already forgotten what they were elected to do. They ran on promises that they would be focused on jobs and the deficit. Now, with a budget plan that cuts 30,000 jobs, kicks 100,000 Minnesotans off health care, and doesn’t even balance, they’ve changed their mind and decided to attack gays and lesbians instead.

The chief sponsor of the anti-marriage bill is Senator Warren Limmer. He’s also the chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee. Almost a month after the public safety budget passed in the House, the conference committee still hasn’t even met, according to a statement by House Minority Leader Paul Thissen. Limmer should be doing his job instead of working on divisive policies Minnesotans don’t want.

Republicans, you have a job to do, and Minnesotans are going to demand that you get it done. Pass a responsible, honest budget, and do it now. When you’re done with that, maybe you can spare some of your valuable time to help Minnesotans get back to work.

We’re not going to be distracted by divisive social issues. Minnesotans don’t want you abandoning your real work for this nonsense. We want you to fix the budget, and we want jobs.

Once you’re done with that, we can talk about how repugnant it is that you think it’s acceptable to use taking away people’s civil rights as a way to change the subject from your failed budget. You will pay in 2012, both for your bigotry and for elevating that bigotry above real, important issues affecting Minnesotans’ everyday lives.