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By Phil Krinkie
At the start of the New Year it is customary that we reflect on the events of the past year and resolve to not repeat the mistakes of the past. While as individuals we make our personal lists of New Year’s resolutions, my hope is that our elected officials are assessing their actions (and inactions) of the 2007 session and resolving to approach the 2008 session with a different perspective. Having spent a few years roaming the hallways of the “Marble Kingdom,” I thought I might offer some suggestions to my former colleagues.
As we all know it starts at the top, so it would be helpful if House and Senate leadership along with the Governor resolve not to hold the “dual press conferences.” This is the practice of holding press conferences to immediately respond to the press conference that was just completed by the other side in order to refute or object to the content of their statements. The media loves this game of he said, she said, but the public really doesn’t care and the practice does nothing for the process of facilitating public debate.
2008 Resolution #1: Avoid the “dual press conferences.” Hold press conferences only to announce your agenda or action plan, not for the purpose of counter punching or subverting the other person’s message.
The second step to a more amicable 2008 legislative session would be for all members to remember the saying that our mothers often mentioned, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This may seem ironic from a guy who was often in the midst of legislative controversy; however, during my 16 years in the Legislature, I tried to focus my criticism on the process or the idea, not the individual.
Adhering to this motherly advice would be especially helpful for State Senator Steve Murphy, Chair of the Senate Transportation Finance Committee, who appears from his actions and words of 2007 to have forgotten this concept. His constant denigrating remarks of Lt. Governor Molnau and her performance as Commissioner of Transportation aren’t helpful to anyone, and least of all to the operations at the Transportation Department. Senator Murphy’s resolution should be to improve the operations and functions of this state government agency, rather than constantly berating the Governor and Lt. Governor.
Whether in thought, word or deed, each legislator or executive officer is striving to do the “right” thing, even if they’re wrong. It is important to remember everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.
2008 Resolution #2: Object to ideas or processes, not to individuals. Strive to improve outcomes rather than just criticizing a product.
The third recommended resolution for our legislators is stop playing the blame game. The goal of the process should be how to benefit the greatest number of people while inconveniencing the fewest people, not a process of trying to convince the public that it wasn’t your fault.
A key example is the tragic collapse of the 35W bridge. At first the focus was on the victims and their families. But soon the bridge collapse turned into a political blame game with accusations and finger pointing, a process of trying to gain a political advantage from a personal tragedy.
The public is not sitting at home with paper and pencil keeping score. Tell the people what you want to accomplish and then set out to make it happen – don’t blame someone or something for what didn’t happen.
2008 Resolution #3: Keep it positive. Don’t play the blame game.
Hopefully all of those involved in the legislative process will take some time before the 2008 legislative session begins in February to write down their New Year’s resolutions. Following the above resolutions may result in a less acrimonious 2008 Session.
My final resolution is to remind policymakers that Minnesota’s budget shortfall is due to a spending problem not a revenue problem; but even if you don’t agree, the first three resolutions are generic enough so that they should be helpful in reaching an early adjournment of the 2008 Session.
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