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Be proud of the past, but also proactive

To be competitive in the future, Minnesota must focus on jobs and education. Here's how.

By TIM PAWLENTY

Last update: January 25, 2009 - 6:56 AM

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Winston Churchill once said, "If we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future."

That sums up the debate facing Minnesota policymakers. We're rightfully proud of our past and of what we've accomplished together. However, we shouldn't be so in love with the past that we miss the future.

Minnesota in 2009 is significantly different from our state in 1979 or 1999. Global capital now flows easily across international borders. We compete not just with neighboring states but with economies around the world.

Minnesota doesn't have oil reserves or an ocean or a big population. What we do have is our intelligence, our creativity, our determination, our self-reliance and, most important, our common sense.

We need to use that common sense to tackle two big jobs during this legislative session: balancing the state budget and strategically positioning Minnesota to thrive in a world that has dramatically changed.

Achieving those goals will require a number of changes, but improving our job climate and improving education are two key priorities.

Having a good job is the quality-of-life cornerstone for Minnesotans. It's what sustains them and their families, as well as our communities. That's why we need to make Minnesota a more attractive place for job providers.

A study by the Tax Foundation shows that Minnesota has the third-highest business tax rate in the world, adding together state and federal burdens. Another measure shows we're hurting when it comes to creating a climate conducive to small-business growth. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranked Minnesota 46th of the 50 states in its Small Business Survival Index.

I've proposed the "Minnesota Jobs Recovery Act" -- a series of tax cuts and incentives designed to unleash creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and job growth and to pump some life into small businesses. This includes cutting the business tax rate in half over six years, converting the capital equipment sales tax refund to an exemption and a number of other initiatives.

Improving our business climate isn't the only step needed to position our state for future success. It's also critical that we have an educated, skilled and productive workforce.

That's why I've proposed increasing K-12 education funding, even with a budget deficit.

However, increasing funding should be linked to better results. This will align the money we spend with the results we expect. It's how the world works, and it will continue to transform a system that is in need of modernization.

We also need to make Minnesota the nation's leader in teacher training and preparation through the "Teaching Transformation Act," which will set minimum entrance requirements for teacher preparation programs, strengthen our teacher certification test and help recruit new teachers.

As we improve our job climate and our K-12 system, we will also innovate and make government more efficient in other ways. For example, our groundbreaking partnership with Wisconsin to combine or coordinate state services has the potential to alter the way state governments provide services and save money in the process.

It also reminds us that the argument between the present and the past is a losing one. I'm hopeful that this legislative session policymakers will stay focused on a better future for Minnesota.

Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, is governor of Minnesota.

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