Please help me prove David Strom and Joel Kramer wrong!
I love David Strom and Joel Kramer like only a policy and political fiend could. I consider David a friend (that should invite me on his radio show more). But, dear Legislature, I hope you will help me prove them both wrong wrong wrong.
At a recent Twin West Chamber breakfast, both David and Joel agreed that the national political dynamics would not help get things done this year in Minnesota. I was the optimist. I said the dynamics would work in our favor. I hoped that the Governor's potential national ambitions, and the Democrat's need to demonstrate their new political muscle, would set the stage for policy progress.
After all, Minnesota has a political opportunity here that we haven't seen in over 10 years: a clear mandate from the public in terms of priority issues; a unified legislature; a surplus; good/workable ideas on the table, etc. Both the Governor and the legislative leadership "win" if they address a key set of issues this year.
But with very little time left in the first part of this session, I'm worried David and Joel might be right.
- Are base budgets really "off the table"? I hear they are. How on earth are we going to innovate if changes to current spending are off the table?
- I understand that health care is tough, but waiting until next year?! There is never going to be a single silver-bullet on health care. There are a number of good ideas on the table — one of them our idea on establishing a consumer voice in the medical care market.
- I agree with the Governor's call to reinvent high school and improve financial aid for higher education — but are any of the proposals on the table sufficient to accomplish the task?