With Election Over, Governing Starts - Maybe

When you went to the polls last week, what was the primary motivation for your vote? Was it personality, was it the policies your candidate would pursue, or a combination of both?
After the 2016 election, we asked a person why he had voted for Donald Trump. He simply said, “I liked what he had to say.” But he followed up that statement with, “I like Bernie Sanders, too.”
He lacked all political conviction. None of the issues that a candidate would pursue meant anything to him. We find that many, a significant fraction of America’s voting public, is the same. They often vote on some inner like or dislike for the way the candidate looks, swaggers, or laughs. It isn’t whether the candidate has a conviction or grasp of the issues on abortion, gun rights, immigration, support for Ukraine, climate change, or the budget.
When the celebration is over, they check out, never following the consequences of the votes they cast. However, we all are set on the path the electorate chose.
Minnesota’s Legislature is likely to start 2025 with a lack of dominant leadership, as was the case the past two years when the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party controlled the state House, Senate, and governorship.
The state House is likely to be split evenly between the DFL and Republican Party – 67 seats each. The DFL controls the state Senate by one vote and has Gov. Tim Walz.
The Republican and DFL parties are now working on a shared power structure in the House – leadership positions and committee chairmanships will be split. Nothing will get to the state Senate or the governor’s desk without compromise.
Compromise is going to be essential to getting anything done in the best interests of the most fundamental needs of the state’s citizens. It will be a test of the principles on which our representative government was founded, our knowledge of those principles, and our willingness to govern by them.
Divisive national issues are likely to be pushed on to our state government by federal actions. We can’t lose focus on what is really important to rural Minnesota.
Walz, now back from the presidential campaign trail, has two more years left in his term. He has pledged to “safeguard” the state’s current democratic policies from the Trump Administration.
“I know a lot of folks are worried about the next four years. I’m with them,” he said. “We know what’s going to happen. We know because they told us, and we have to be ready. I’m ready to stand up and fight.”
Divided government is the cloud and burden under which Minnesota’s Legislature heads into the 2025 session. The challenge for legislators starts when they try to balance their passions with practicality and their convictions with compromise. It comes as they look over their shoulders at the mood of their party base and the fear of losing its endorsement.
What are the critical issues for rural Minnesota in the coming session?
Economic development that helps diversify our tax base and brings new people to live and work in our communities. These new residents have children who attend our schools and churches, participate in the community’s volunteer organizations, start businesses, and shop at our stores.
There is an ongoing need for support for our childcare providers and expand services in rural Minnesota. We need workforce housing. We need support for our schools and local governments faced with a crumbling infrastructure.
With all these needs, the devil is in the details, priorities – and the politics.
In many ways, the Republicans and DFLers have a lot in common. Getting them to act on what they have in common may seem like a false hope. It can be done, however. Here is what the party platforms said going into the election:

Economic development
Republicans – “Private enterprise drives economic prosperity, not government. We must lower taxes, reduce regulatory burdens and rein in government spending.
It encourages market-driven affordable workforce housing.
DFL – “Community development decisions must consider our long-term benefits and promote opportunity, prosperity, and housing security.”
It supports the responsible use of economic development funds and affordable housing. It supports businesses that build, employ, and invest in America.

Education
DFL - We believe a vigorous and universally available system of public education is a basis to a productive, democratic society. That goal is achieved by supporting a strong system of public education at all levels, with stable funding and equal educational opportunities.
Republicans - All children deserve the opportunity to succeed, and the goal of education is to develop a foundational base of practical and academic knowledge preparing students to become productive citizens.
Protect parental choice by maximizing school choice and student-driven funding as necessary prerequisites to improving educational outcomes.

Energy
Republicans – “Endorse energy policies and technologies that practically respond to energy needs in the market. Oppose government mandates and subsidies for electric vehicles and appliances.”
DFL – “We believe in safe, sustainable, and secure energy sources that offer coming generations access to fuels and power. It supports increased use of renewable energy sources and aggressive energy conservation in transportation, commercial, industrial, residential, and governmental sectors.”

Agriculture
DFL – “Preservation and protection of farmland through soil conservation and sound sustainable ecological practices.” It recognizes the need to protect and conserve clean water as a shared resource held in public trust for the health, safety and benefit of the public.
Republicans – “Stewardship of our natural resources and agricultural lands is everyone’s responsibility. Economic development must be balanced with environmental stewardship.”

Immigration
This issue could become extremely divisive in the coming sessions if the new Trump administration vigorously pursues its proposed call for rounding up and deporting millions of immigrants.
DFL – “Support an immigration policy based on respect for humanity and recognition of our immigrant heritage and our increasingly interconnected world.”
Republicans – “Support comprehensive immigration reform. Prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to assist people entering our country illegally. Support legal immigration. Oppose providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants.”