Almanac: At the Capitol

Most realistically perhaps, I believe the Hippocratic Oath applies to the upcoming session: First — do no harm.

• No shutdowns.
• Not more than 50% of session time should be spent on issues that less than 5% of Minnesotans think is their top priority.
• Don't bankrupt our kids with policy "solutions" in health care and education.

Optimistically, I think we're in a great position. The 2020 Conference's recent proposal on long-term care is a good start for better politics and better policy. I think politicians know that the public expects real progress on issues they care about.

What I'd like to see accomplished this year also relates to the Hippocratic Oath. If we do ONE thing, let's make headway on health care: Address access, long-term costs, and quality — and move towards a system that is based more on prevention and the role that all citizens have in "producing" their own health and wellness. (Everyone should read Dave Durenberger's blogs and updates from his role at the National Institute of Health Policy.) Access that doesn't address long-term costs will bankrupt us. Access without improving quality will bankrupt AND kill us.