I've spent a good deal of time since January trying to convince Gov. Mark Dayton and legislators that a partnership between the state and my White Earth tribe to create a metro casino would be a winning proposition for everyone.

In spite of broad political and public support for the proposal, the session ended without our legislation receiving a full hearing on its merits.

Even so, the experience gives me renewed respect for Minnesota's political leaders and optimism for our state's future. It also has given me some insights that might be useful to voters as they look ahead to the important legislative elections this fall.

The public demands a great deal from citizen legislators. Overnight, they are expected to become experts in all the large and small details that make up a $62 billion operating budget that touches the lives of 5.3 million Minnesotans.

The White Earth casino issue is a good case in point. During the session, we were trying to educate legislators on how well similar partnerships between tribes and public governments are working in other states, on the constitutionality of our proposal, on the opportunity it would create to fund important state priorities with no new taxes, and on how a metro casino would deliver on the promise of tribal gaming to help lift the state's largest and economically poorest tribe out of poverty.

Certainly, there were interests opposing MinnesotaWins, our casino proposal. But in many ways our greatest adversary was time. A legislative session's calendar is unforgiving. We persuaded some legislators, but simply ran out of time with many others.

In the crush of a legislative session, it's hard for legislators to do much more than react to issues as they arise. The months outside of session -- and, in particular, election campaigns -- are the best opportunities for citizens to engage with politicians and to make them smarter about the issues that matter most to each of us.

MinnesotaWins gave White Earth an important platform to make more people aware of the challenges and opportunities facing our tribe. But talking about these issues during a legislative session is one thing. The issues will become real for policymakers who are willing to visit White Earth reservation this summer and fall to see what we are doing to improve the lives of our members and how much more should and could be done.

The lesson learned for those of us who are championing causes is that we need to be as engaged with politics and politicians in July as we are in January.

This session also reminded us that the best public policy usually starts with a broad vision of desired outcomes. Legislative decisionmaking, though, often results from what is possible, not what is best. That reality produced this year's approval of electronic pulltabs.

It passed not because legislators are convinced that it will produce the revenue needed to fund a Vikings stadium -- most are doubtful -- or that it is the state's best bet. It passed because it was the one option that existing gaming interests wouldn't oppose.

Minnesota needs a broad conversation on a comprehensive gaming policy that respects the sovereignty of Native Minnesotans and the intent of tribal gaming, is fair to all Minnesotans and acknowledges the social cost of gambling.

We, of course, would argue that a White Earth-state casino addresses all these issues. We recognize that others will disagree. Fair enough. What everyone should acknowledge, though, is that the worst course is to allow a few unelected vested interests to dictate the state's gambling policies.

The lesson to be learned isn't that politics is dirty. Rather, it's that politics is as good as we the people make it. We often hear legislators say they work for the people of Minnesota. I believe most are sincere. But if that's the case, then it is up to citizens to craft a vision for our elected officials to implement.

That is year-round work, and it's as true for education, health and tax policy as it is for my issue.

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Erma J. Vizenor is the White Earth tribal chair.