When four top leaders of Minnesota state government met with Free Press editors and reporters last week, they all mentioned the idea that they represent all Minnesotans, not just those who voted for them.

That’s a good state of mind to be in, given what is likely to be some very difficult compromising between Democrats and Republicans in the weeks ahead. Republican House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka told The Free Press they recognized that Minnesotans elected a divided government, giving their party control of both Houses but also electing DFL Gov. Mark Dayton twice.

They also noted that in this divided government they were not going to get everything they wanted in terms of their legislation. Many agreed compromise was not a dirty word it might have been just a few years ago with a strident Republican Party chairman.

There seemed to be a real sense of the Republicans being clear they don’t agree with Dayton on many issues, but that there was this hoped-for middle ground all could agree on. There were a few absolutes — the GOP is, for example, adamant about no gas tax — and that’s not ideal. Dayton said no budget cuts without specifics. Seems reasonable, except that GOP took that is there is no way he will consider budget savings at all. That’s also not an ideal position.

We’ll see where this leads us. Let’s hope these absolutes don’t creep into the negotiations like a fast-growing tumor to crowd out the good discussions and compromises that need to take place.

When Lt. Gov. Tina Smith visited The Free Press last week, she too, said the Dayton-Smith team was ready to play fair. When it comes to compromise, she said, the bigger picture is important.

The DFL and GOP may have different “positions” but they havethe same “interests,” Smith said, quoting an old friend. So it’s important to start with common interests and then make the policy positions work from that point.

That’s a wise approach and one we think both sides would do well to follow as the policy positions may become contentious.

— Mankato Free Press, April 26