TRANSPARENT AS MUD
Well, it's June 3, and the Minnesota legislature seems to have blown its own internal deadlines again. Behind-the-scenes negotiations continue. Since the regular session adjourned on May 17, only two "working groups" have had public meetings. Lobbyists don't know what's going on. Reporters don't know what's going on. Even some rank-and-file legislators don't know what's going on.
Representative democracy and pure democracy are different. We elect leaders to make decisions on our behalf, to represent us. At best, it's an imperfect system. Personally, I have to balance my ideals of transparent government, with the realities of politics and the desire for privacy that is just a part of being human.
As representatives of business, I get it. If all of the conversations and negotiations that I go through internally at the Chamber to come to a decision on a position or a strategy had to be done in public, I know that would change my word choice and comfort level. I'm sure that most of us can identify with that, right? So I'm not sure how to fix the system. Right now I'm continuing to have faith that the (very real) June 30 shutdown deadline will inspire some cooperation and coordination.
Your PA team will continue to monitor the situation, and report back as we can. If you have questions, let us know!
Shannon Watson
Vice President of Public Affairs
Follow me on Twitter @Shannon_SPACC
