From Gov. Arne Carlson's obsession with the University of Minnesota to Gov. Jesse Ventura's overriding emphasis on reducing license tab fees, history has shown that Minnesota's governors can't think beyond their own personal lives.

It seems Gov. Tim Pawlenty is following suit.

Pawlenty's proposed budget includes a 22 percent cut to the Local Government Aid program, which provides state aid to Minneapolis, St. Paul and outstate Minnesota cities. Cities use the money to pay for basic services which they could not otherwise afford without significant property tax increases.

Considering the state's $4.3 billion deficit, it seems reasonable that Local Government Aid should be in line for cuts, like the rest of state-funded programs. However, the cut is proportionally higher than other programs which were cut.

In addition, the cuts target those who live in the poorest communities: rural Minnesota and inner cities. While some of the larger cities receiving LGA may be able to use some reserves or cut non-essential services, smaller cities are already providing bare-bones services.

Cities in the Twin Cities suburbs -- where Pawlenty resides -- weren't receiving Local Government Aid anyway, because the property tax base is high enough for cities to sustain themselves.

No question, cutting spending is difficult, and Pawlenty and the Legislature are going to be chastised no matter what they cut. But like it or not, disproportionately cutting aid to outstate Minnesota while leaving the suburbs alone makes it look like Pawlenty is listening more to his neighbors than his constituents.