As a native Lone Star Stater, ah kin tell yuh there's nuthin purtier than a west Texas sunset. And Minnesota Republican legislators are to be commended for proposing an idea for a Minnesota Sunset Commission, modeled on a 30-year old panel in Texas state government.
The idea of "sunsets'' for government programs has been around a long time and it might make some sense to have an actual process in place to question, review, look for duplication and waste, and recommend innovative changes in government programs and services. That's the language used on the actual Texas commission's website. Digging a little deeper suggests that the commission does responsible work and is more than just a tool to denigrate and downsize the public sector.
Lots of great ideas are proliferating as our elected officials and conscientious citizens grapple with our decade-long budget crisis. Revenues need to be raised and perhaps restored to the levels that worked well for us when our economy was doing much better. But creative new initiatives like the bi-partisan Minnesota House Redesign Caucus can only be a good thing.
Good government takes work. Let's get at it, pardner.
— Dane Smith
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