January 05, 2007
Start with Principles to Find Common Ground
Can Minnesota conservatives find common ground with the new DFL majority in the legislature?
That was one way to interpret the question posed by Mitch Perlstein at a recent panel discussion sponsored by the Center of the American Experiment. We'll leave it to others to summarize the comments from other panelists. The Growth & Justice answer is: "Yes."
When it comes to a vision for Minnesota, conservatives and progressives are not always polarized. Our disagreements tend to arise over tactics, not outcomes. We believe legislators of both parties could be more effective if they began discussions about the right outcomes for the state, and shaped solutions based on evidence and shared principles rather than ideology.
What are some key areas where we could agree on principle for the good of Minnesota?
- A concern for more effective government. The point is not size, but effectiveness. We should choose the solutions that most effectively accomplish our goals.
- Select the right measures of effectiveness. Before we argue about tactics, let's be sure to agree on the strategic measures of success. For example, in health care, if we say we want everyone insured, then solutions will focus on how to mandate and pay for insurance. But if we agree that real underlying goal is healthy longevity, see how it broadens the discussion.
- Agree on principles of fairness and fiscal transparency. Non-partisan agreement might be possible on these five principles:
Even achieving agreement on these few items would require a lot of work. But it would work for Minnesota, and it would certainly build trust in the system. [Sean Kershaw of the Citizens League has also posted some thoughts about his participation in the discussion.]
- Changes in how we raise revenue should not make the system more regressive. We should not place a greater burden on middle and lower income earners than on high earners.
- Establish how much, as a percentage of income, we are willing to pay for government. We already have a widely accepted measure — the Price of Government — that could help us settle on the right level of services at the right price for Minnesota.
- Count inflation in budget projections.
- Build reserves during good times, so the state doesn't have to go through disruptive budget cuts when revenues don't meet expectations.
- Commit to measuring results and holding government accountable for achieving them.
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