Minnesota likes to be different. We think we’re better, smarter, and prefer to do things our own way.
While that can be a good thing, it can also create real shockwaves in the public affairs arena. From local policies being advanced by city and county elected officials, to new laws being fast-tracked at the State Capitol, over the past several years, K2 has been in numerous local public affairs fights that have national policy implications.
K2 works with national trade associations and businesses all the time on policy priorities – helping build coalitions of local voices, gain media attention, and help push through or stop policies that support our client’s priorities. But more and more, we are seeing national trade groups coming into our state to fight harmful policies on behalf of not only their members in Minnesota, but engaging because they must take a big picture look at what these local policies could mean nationally. More and more, we are engaging in public affairs campaigns that aim to fight loudly and boldly to ensure these policy ideas don’t spread to other states.
Minnesota is a hotspot for these types of policy fights, and something every industry – whether you’re in energy, health care, tech, hospitality, agriculture, or finance – should be paying attention to.
Why You Must Keep an Eye on Minnesota.
Minnesota is home to both strongly red and blue regions, and our legislature is currently split almost evenly between Democrats and Republicans. But from the business perspective, there is a strong progressive wave of policymaking that continually makes itself known in our state. From progressive cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, to lawmakers at the Capitol, we are seeing a growing number of new, complex regulatory requirements on business and nation-leading tax proposals on numerous products and services.
This progressive streak can be seen in things like the City of Minneapolis forcing the state’s hand to implement higher mandated rates on rideshare last year, for example. Or a legislative proposal being advanced this session that would create a first-in-the-nation new tax on social media platforms.
Why Going Big to Stop Harmful Policies in Minnesota is So Important.
I have worked on several big-stakes public affairs campaigns over the last several years that have been fought locally, but with attention and investment from national businesses and organizations. These campaigns have been by and large successful, but every time one fight is won, another seems to pop up.
Businesses and trade associations aren’t just investing in these fights because it will be bad for them locally in Minnesota, but because if these policies gain a foothold here, they can quickly spread to other states and cities across the nation.
It’s also why GOING BIG in these fights and showing loud opposition is so critical.
Because even if an idea dies here, if champions of these harmful policies don’t see a robust fight from diverse stakeholders, experience a significant pushback in the media against their issue, and face meaningful public opposition, they may move on to try and push these ideas elsewhere in the country.
Minnesota is a breeding ground for precedent-setting policy ideas, and it’s why it is such an important state in which to build supportive coalitions and fight the good fight on the policies that matter to your industry.
Chelsea Thompson, Vice President of Public Affairs, K2 & Co.