Nick Coleman: Political hay? Not if knowing why the bridge fell is the goal

We are far from the candlelight vigils above the Interstate 35W bridge. The news cameras are gone, and so is the good will. We are back to bickering. But that is not to say we are back to normal.

Minnesota is way below what we thought was normal.

Twenty weeks after the bridge fell, we are no closer to learning what went wrong, and further than ever from figuring out how to make things right.

Now we even have dueling investigations. But that may be what it takes to get it done.

The Senate has voted to spend $500,000 on an outside law firm to investigate the collapse and the policies that led to it. The vote was bipartisan, but the move was attacked by Republicans, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who called it an attempt "to make political hay out of a tragic situation."

This from the same guy who, within hours of the disaster, spent $2 million for an outside "consultant" whose job seems to be to make sure that whatever caused the bridge to fall -- bad policies, bad gussets or bad Karma -- is not linked to his vetoes of transportation bills, his opposition to gas tax increases or decisions by his Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Transportation Carol ("What, Me Worry?") Molnau.

That outside firm -- which Pawlenty said would make a separate investigation -- is now working closely with the lead investigative agency, the National Transportation Safety Board, meaning two things: a) it is redundant, and b) the $2 million would have been better spent reinforcing the bridge, as was recommended to, and rejected by, Molnau's minions.

If he wants to call that "making hay," let the haying begin.

Don't kid yourself. This thing has been political since Day 3, when President Bush visited the bridge in order, the White House acknowledged, to make the president appear more "compassionate" than he did after Hurricane Katrina. As I wrote at the time of the Bush visit:

"Everything about this disaster ... has been steeped in politics. ... The most calculated political effort has been the posturing ... by public officials trying to act commanding while making sure they don't get pinned with responsibility."

Nothing has changed.

Now, the sheriff of Hennepin County, Rich Stanek, has spent $30,000 to give us a DVD telling the thrilling tale of how Rich Stanek, sheriff of Hennepin County, bravely stood before the bright lights of the TV cameras and led us through the disaster. If it hadn't been for him, 13 people might have died.

That needs to be remembered, forever. Thirteen people died when a bridge that is supposed to be maintained for the safety of the taxpaying public that paid for it fell down.

To determine why it happened, and who is responsible, may seem "political" to some. But it is a fundamental duty of government. I don't care if it takes 20 investigations. Let us have as many as necessary to know how this happened in a state formerly known as The State That Works.

We are now the State Where Things Fall Apart. And not just bridges are falling down.

Government is, too.

In the past year or so, we have had Veterans Homes where veterans died due to neglect, a Health Department that didn't tell us mine workers were dying of a cancer associated with asbestos. A pollution control agency that soft-pedaled warnings about industrial chemicals in drinking water. "Emergency coordinators" on holidays on taxpayer expense while road safety and bridge projects languished and safety rules limiting development near airports were waived.

Minnesota is falling, too.

If you think it is political to say so, or to demand change, then so be it. But it ain't about making hay.

It's about making the future.