A column by Tom Forsythe of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce:

Minnesotans face a new political landscape when the Legislature convenes in January.

As the voice of Minnesota business, our goal at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is to ensure a brighter future for our economy and all Minnesotans. Representing 2,500 members and 130 local chambers, we advocate policies that strengthen our competitive business environment and advance a thriving statewide economy.

We do see a bright future, but we also know our challenges are acute. We need to take action to create and ensure that prosperous future – and we believe our jobs agenda is a common-sense plan the 2007 legislature should embrace.

Access to quality, affordable health care is a serious concern for Minnesota businesses. In fact, rising health care costs are a worry for us all. Rising premiums are pricing healthcare benefits out of reach for employees and employers alike. Underlying those higher premiums are healthcare costs that seem to grow without limit.

A functioning, competitive marketplace is our best hope. We must re-engage as consumers to purchase health services in a private, competitive market that demands quality, reduces waste and rewards value. The Minnesota chamber will advocate for greater access to more meaningful, user-friendly information about provider performance in terms of both quality and cost. We all must work together to solve this problem.

The state budget is another key priority. We all prioritize our personal spending to live within our means. Government should, too. The November forecast projected a surplus of more than $2 billion for fiscal year 2008-2009, which includes a record $31 billion in tax revenue. That should be plenty of money to address statewide priorities -- if we prioritize and spend wisely. We oppose raising general fund taxes to spend more.

The strength of the statewide business community was underscored in the decisive victory of Minnesota’s Transportation Amendment. The Minnesota chamber helped lead the broad-based vote-yes coalition, Minnesotans for Better Roads and Transit. Minnesotans want to be safer and move faster on our roads. Passing this amendment was a first step toward funding long overdue investments in our statewide transportation infrastructure. Our immediate priority will be to dedicate by statute 60 percent of the motor vehicle sales tax to highways and 40 percent to transit -- exactly the formula that Minnesotans approved.

Reliability and cost of energy, as well as a quality workforce, round out our agenda.

Minnesota needs a reliable supply of electricity at competitive prices. This can best be achieved by offering incentives for greater efficiency. But efficiency alone will not support economic growth. We also urge Minnesotans to begin discussing options to increase supply. That includes improving existing generation facilities and exploring new power plants. Renewable energy should be encouraged by adjusting the Renewable Energy Objective in existing state law, not via new statewide mandates which give minimal consideration to reliability and cost.

Finally, we believe all Minnesotans should have the opportunity to land a job that pays well and offers growth and fulfillment. To help ensure that kind of future, we need greater accountability from our K-12 and higher education systems. Our investments need to produce results. Employers should be involved, too, in developing workforce training to make certain that instructional programs are better geared to available jobs.

That’s our 2007 jobs agenda. Why do we think our new legislature should embrace it? Because a healthy jobs sector is vital to Minnesota’s future. As jobs grow, our tax base expands, generating new tax revenue to fund important state programs and services. As a result, the entire state prospers.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has a distinguished record of advocacy and achievement in advancing and ensuring our state’s future. We look forward to another year of progress on the important issues that affect our state’s economy and every Minnesotan’s future.

(Tom Forsythe, vice president of corporate communications at General Mills, Minneapolis, is the 2006-2007 chairman of the Minnesota Chamber Board of Directors.)