There should be one thing almost as important as solving the state’s $5 billion budget deficit for Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature: how Minnesotans view them as public servants.

That will not only influence the next election, but more important, give Minnesotans some idea if our political leaders are willing to dismantle, even decimate, the tradition of bipartisan problem-solving that is the cornerstone of Minnesota politics.

Minnesotans expect their public servants to put the emphasis on “serve.” And it better be pretty darn clear that leaders are serving taxpayers — not the party or some other special interest.

So far, the adherence to the principle of public service first appears mixed. The debate didn’t seem to be moved forward much by the Republican majority’s insistence on using its own budget analysis instead of the nonpartisan Minnesota budget office.

Republicans recently recanted on that idea and say they will use the state numbers.

They also were banking on some $300 million from a federal health care waiver they had no chance of getting approved by a Democratic administration in Washington. They also have since moved off that idea.

For his part, Dayton seemed to be meeting cordially in private with Republicans but then would have these social capital depleting press conferences that probably moved the two sides a bit further apart just when they were getting close.

Eventually Republicans began attending Dayton’s press conferences to be around to give their side of the story. Good for them.

Republicans did some of their own spreading the distance of compromise by sending letters to Dayton reiterating ironclad positions — not the best negotiating tactic.

More recently, the “servant” part of public servant appears to be emerging on both sides. To their credit, Republicans are compiling their conference committee reports, but not signing them in order to allow the governor and his staff to weigh in. Dayton had asked that they have a unified position before he begins negotiating with them. Now it appears they have a unified position and now the ball is in the governor’s court.

As the governor and Legislature begin their negotiations, they will clearly have disagreements, some may be wide. When they get to that point, we would recommend each side ask themselves: Is what we advocate serving the public? Does our position serve the public? Does our plan have a solution that serves the public?

— Mankato Free Press, May 14