Session failure

I am disheartened by the results the Minnesota government got this session. It truly confirms to me that the political system is broken. Below is a list of bills and ideas proposed followed by the actual outcome:

Education proposed:
- Somewhere between a 2-3.5 percent increase for the next two years. I believe the one most quoted was 3% in 2007 and 2% 2008.
- All day Kindergarten.
- More emphasis on the Early Childhood education services.
Education actual:
- 2% increase for 2007, 1% for 2008. No all day K. Early Childhood doesn't receive promised allotment.
Grade: F. Way to fund the future.

Health care proposed:
- All children in Minnesota would have universal health care if needed.
Health care actual:
- As heard on the radio about 58 thousand people would be getting more heath care benefits.
Grade: D. There was progress.

Taxes proposed:
- Anywhere between a 5-10 cent per gallon gas tax hike
- Creating a fourth tier to the tax bracket that would additionally tax anyone who makes over 155,o00 as an individual and 242,ooo as a family.
Taxes actual:
No tax increases due to governor veto.
Grade: F. Screw Pawlenty for borrowing against the future then not bothering to fund it.

Nature and arts amendment proposed:
- adding 3/8 of a cent tax that would go towards natural causes as well as arts funding in Minnesota. Passing this bill would have allowed Minnesota to vote on an amendment to put this into law. Similar to the transportation amendment in 2006.
Nature and arts amendment actual:
- Didn't get to it. Not enough time.
Grade: F. I wouldn't have voted for it, but it would have been nice to see something get done.

What troubles me more is the nature of the session. Senate and House pass a bill. Governor vetoes it. Sides ignore branches of government and decide to just hammer it out in a small room without the entire government. They never come to an adequate agreement. Senate and House pass down watered down bills in the final hour and adjourn. Governor still has the power to line item veto or to just veto an entire bill.

Where is the balance of power and why did we (as Minnesotans) vote Pawlenty back in?