Greater learning, better health, more reliable transportation, and enhanced energy and environmental conditions are the main things that will move Minnesota forward. Government must deliver these results at a price that citizens are willing to pay.

On the partisan extremes, one side thinks all taxes are a threat. The other thinks government should tax more for whatever it needs. As a result we're often left with a false choice between paying more for the same results or paying the same price for less. Those are lousy choices. They lack imagination. They only get us more of less of the status quo when what we want is something better. It takes imagination and leadership to get better results at the price we pay for government.

Every year, Minnesotans want more value for our money from government just as we do from the department store. We've established the price we're willing to pay for government: 16.5 percent of personal income (the average over the last 30 years) for all of the taxes, fees, charges, fines, assessments, tuition, etc., that we pay to local and state governments. The price of Minnesota's government keeps coming back to 16.5 percent as though it were the set point on a thermostat. So, we should focus less on the level and more on the results of our tax dollars. What we want is not a higher or lower price, but more value for our money.

• One government - The relationship between the state and local governments is lousy and getting worse. Each blames the other for rising taxes or cuts in service. The state regularly tells local governments what to do and how to do it without either the flexibility or the finances to get it done. We don't want to pay for government bickering.
• One price - While the state raises most of the money, local governments are responsible for most of the spending. We have an integrated system of government finance, but it is badly broken. We need to fix it.
• Buy the best, leave the rest - Set priorities (the main things). Then, challenge all governments to propose how they can best deliver the results that citizens want at the price they are willing to pay. Use the money government has to buy those proposals that do the best job at the best price.

• Give Minnesotans their money's worth from their executive officers. Minnesotans are paying five people to lead our state - they want results. With one team, not a ticket, and one agenda, Minnesotans will get the results they want and pay for.
• Act like we're one government - Create a One Government Leadership Council in the Governor's office (including cities, counties, schools and townships) to set the price, priorities and strategies for government in Minnesota.
• Information - Gather and publish the facts about what works best at the best price throughout government both in Minnesota and the United States.
• Use the price of government to buy the best results - Transform budgeting so that we buy the best results at the best price rather than only more or less of the status quo.
• Reduce the cost of mistrust - Eliminate the micromanaging that adds cost but no value.