The 2011 Legislative Session 

A new Governor, coupled with new leadership in both the House and Senate, provides an opportunity to take a fresh look at the challenges and opportunities facing our state. The timing couldn’t be better. Consider this: 

     ·         Economic growth in China — not the U.S. — is pulling the world out of the global recession. The emergence of China, India, Brazil and other markets far from Minnesota pose challenges to our state. But global growth is fueling growth at home. A third of Minnesota’s manufactured exports in 2010 were destined for Asia – on par with Minnesota exports to North America and well ahead of our exports to the European Union (EU), according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. 

     ·         The baby boomers begin turning 65 this year. The generation that drove economic growth for the past half century will reshape our economy — including our tax and public-sector spending systems. Increased demands for public-sector spending placed on a proportionately smaller workforce will create tensions that policymakers have not experienced in state history. 

Global perspective. Minnesota focus.

The Minnesota Business Partnership — more than 100 CEOs and senior state executives representing Minnesota’s largest employers — provides unique and valuable perspectives on this challenge. Partnership members lead organizations that are national – and increasingly global – in scope. Through the Partnership, members bring their knowledge and experience to bear on issues that are critical to Minnesota’s economic competitiveness and treasured quality-of-life. 

This “Blueprint for Reform” includes recommendations in each of our primary issue areas — education, fiscal policy and health policy. While this blueprint will guide the Partnership’s legislative activity this year, it also includes proposals and action steps for the new administration and the private sector that we believe will position Minnesota for long-term prosperity. 

The full version of the 2011 Blueprint can be downloaded here.

The 2011 Blueprint has also been broken-down into three sections coverning each of the Partnerhsip's primary issue areas. To access the individual policy sections of the blueprint, choose from the options below.  

·         Blueprint for Fiscal Reform: Creating a strong, globally competitive state

·         Blueprint for Health Reform: Aligning incentives to deliver greater value

·         Blueprint for Education Reform: Achieving world-class education and closing achievement gaps