Editor’s note: This interview with Rep. Rich Murray is part of a series looking ahead to the 2012 state legislative session. Look for interviews with Rep. Jeanne Poppe and Sen. Dan Sparks next week.

Jobs.

That’s the top issue for House District 27A Rep. Rich Murray heading into the 2012 legislative session in St. Paul.

The Republican from Albert Lea said the state government needs to reduce regulations to assist with expanding businesses and starting new businesses. Assistance in providing private tax relief, reducing energy costs and aiding in start-up costs through tax credits or angel financing are all examples of how the state government can create jobs.

“We need to be more competitive with other states, so we need to look at our tax structure, regulations with other states that we are competing with,” Murray said. “All of those things will make businesses more competitive here in Minnesota, and I think that will help foster more hours for people and more jobs for people.”

According to Minnesota Data Trends, in the last decade the state has lost 63,000 jobs, a stark contrast to the preceding decade when Minnesota had a net gain of 562,000 jobs.

Murray also said in addition to a 6.4 percent unemployment rate, Minnesota struggles with the amount of people underemployed, or overqualified in their current positions. Both contribute to a large amount of the population relying on social services, something he stated also needs to change.

“We have to be very prudent about how we spend our taxpayers’ money, but we have to remain very compassionate toward people,” Murray said. “We’re not helping people if we don’t help them get back on their feet, get to work, then they become active members of society.”

Shrinking government

State, city, county governments and school districts need to become more efficient and effective in continually looking at ways to innovate, deliver and administer services, something Murray said Gov. Mark Dayton would agree with.

“That doesn’t mean we have to start over,” Murray said. “It means we have to look at every program and its outcome from the service it provides. If we’re not getting that outcome, then we need to redesign that program.”

Some ideas included delivering more integrative services within the human services programs at the state, county and city level, in order to eliminate spending on excess programs. In the latest state cost report of 2010, overall spending on human services programs increased by $232 million — a 2 percent increase — a result of the elimination of the General Assistance Medical Care program and increases in Support and Social Service programs.

Murray said one way to reduce program spending is to reduce the burden on services, using preventative measures.

“We need to start buying health, and not sickness,” Murray said. “We need to be looking at prevention majors, looking at keeping people healthier, educating people and making sure they get those preventative services. Again, what is the outcome of the service we’re providing?”

Budget

Despite the projected $876 million budget surplus, by law, the state rainy-day fund and reserve and must be reimbursed before the schools can be repaid. According to the Minnesota Budget Project, the first $255 million will be used to refill the state’s cash flow account, while the remaining $621 million will go to refilling the reserve.

Murray, who is in his first two-year term, acknowledged that Republicans and DFLers have different views regarding the urgency of repaying the schools. He reiterated the importance of bridging the two-party gap in the upcoming session, regardless of the topic at hand.

“I believe Gov. Dayton is willing to work with the government caucus,” Murray said. “If you ask him what the important issues are in the upcoming session, he’s going to tell you government redesign, jobs and third area is to continue working on the budget and bonding issues.”

Another topic under budget and bonding includes the Vikings stadium. The priority during the January session will be determining its location, whether it remains in the Minneapolis area or Arden Hills. Murray is adamant that, although the Vikings are an important asset to the state, no general fund money can be used in the funding of the new stadium.

“The Vikings stadium issue is not going to go away, but it cannot and will not, be the most important issue. But it’s going to overshadow a lot of things, because people feel very passionately one way or another, about that issue,” Murray said.