Politicians were going back in time on Tuesday at the Saskatchewan Legislature, and it prompted debate on how old is too old to prove a point.

Education Minister Don Morgan has been responding to repeated questions from the Opposition NDP about the budget for K-12 education.

The NDP argues the budget increase is so little it doesn't keep up with rising enrolments, the cost of inflation or even a negotiated teachers' raise.

In response, Morgan quoted a 1993 budget speech when the NDP government of the time cut the budget for education.

"You know, in question period they say, 'You're cutting this. You're cutting that'," Morgan said. "We're going to point out that it's done by all governments. In tough economic times, we have to make cuts and we make difficult economic decisions."

Interim NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon said people find this argument tiresome, especially when the government reaches back decades.

"They can focus on what they want," Wotherspoon said. "I think most Saskatchewan people — if they're watching that sort of behaviour and finger-pointing back to the early '90s — would dismiss it for what it is."

The government said it is simply pointing out that all governments make tough decisions when money is tight, and it won't stop comparing its record to that of its predecessors.

Blast from the past

Leader-Post columnist and CBC political panelist Murray Mandryk highlighted the timeliness of the arguments being made in question period on Tuesday.

He used the opportunity to tweet several other '90s references:

"Let's set the Delorean to Mar. 18, 1993 and see what Janice Mackinnon said, Marty." _ <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@SaskMLA</a> re-enacts Back to the Future. <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/skpoli?src=hash">#skpoli</a> —@MMandryk

Holy, Flock of Seagulls, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@SaskMLA</a>! March, 18, 1993?<br>Even I was a boy then. —@MMandryk

Hey, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@SaskMLA</a>! Guess What? The Montreal Canadiens just won the Stanley Cup. <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/skpoli?src=hash">#skpoli</a> —@MMandryk

Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@SaskMLA</a>! Think the Jays have a chance at repeating as World Series Champs this year? Alomar, Molitor, and Olerud are looking good. —@MMandryk

Geez, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@SaskMLA</a>. Just because all my suits are from 1993 doesn't mean that's where I want my QP answers. <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/skpoli?src=hash">#skpoli</a> —@MMandryk

Can you believe it, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@saskMLA</a>! They just cancelled Cheers! <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/skpoli?src=hash">#skpoli</a> —@MMandryk

I truly think an older <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@saskMLA</a> should go back in time to March 19, 1993 and tell a younger <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@saskMLA</a> not to use that 1993 answer. <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/skpoli?src=hash">#skpoli</a> —@MMandryk

BREAKING NEWS: <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@saskMLA</a> just stood up in today and made a ministerial statement by reading the Gettysburg Address. —@MMandryk

Hey, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@saskMLA</a>! Think that Internet thing they are about to invent will catch on? —@MMandryk

Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@saskMLA</a>! Wasn't March, 19, 1993, coincidentally, the last time Bill Boyd did a scrum? —@MMandryk

Geez! <a href="https://twitter.com/PremierBradWall">@PremierBradWall</a> last week calls Darryl Hannah a Hollywood Starlet. <a href="https://twitter.com/SaskMLA">@SaskMLA</a> quoting Marh 19, 1993. These guys make me feel young. —@MMandryk