Rivalries, whether created by borders or political party affiliation, are no match for government budget problems. That was evident Tuesday when Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty unveiled a plan to have the states' governments work together to find ways to save money for each.
The two governors are hoping to save "tens of millions of dollars" by buying items such as software, bulldozers and road salt together. They directed their top aides to report back by the end of February with ways consolidating efforts and purchases can save money.
Both states need to save anywhere they can. Wisconsin is facing a budget shortfall projected to be as high as $5.4 billion, while Minnesota is facing a $4.8 billion deficit.
"We have to find ways to play big, as they say in basketball," Pawlenty said. "This type of arrangement will allow us to play big," he said.
Probably not a good idea to bring up basketball, governor, particularly with the Badgers and Gophers scheduled to play tonight in Madison. But we get the point.
Pawlenty and Doyle were political rivals, of sorts, just a few months ago - Doyle being a big supporter of President-elect Barack Obama, and Pawlenty backing Arizona Sen. John McCain, even being mentioned as a strong candidate to be McCain's running mate. But political rivalries know no boundaries, nor should they, when taxpayer dollars can be saved.
Schools, cities and counties are familiar with the concept of consolidating services and purchases to save money - though most could do an even better job of it. It's encouraging to see our state leaders take a similar approach on a larger scale. Frankly, it shouldn't take an economic crisis for governments to collaborate to save money. It should be the rule, rather than the exception.
But through their efforts, Doyle and Pawlenty are showing fiscal leadership that hopefully will be reciprocated by lawmakers and public employee unions when their consolidation proposals are put to a vote. And, hopefully, they've set a political example that will be replicated elsewhere.
The two governors are hoping to save "tens of millions of dollars" by buying items such as software, bulldozers and road salt together. They directed their top aides to report back by the end of February with ways consolidating efforts and purchases can save money.
Both states need to save anywhere they can. Wisconsin is facing a budget shortfall projected to be as high as $5.4 billion, while Minnesota is facing a $4.8 billion deficit.
"We have to find ways to play big, as they say in basketball," Pawlenty said. "This type of arrangement will allow us to play big," he said.
Probably not a good idea to bring up basketball, governor, particularly with the Badgers and Gophers scheduled to play tonight in Madison. But we get the point.
Pawlenty and Doyle were political rivals, of sorts, just a few months ago - Doyle being a big supporter of President-elect Barack Obama, and Pawlenty backing Arizona Sen. John McCain, even being mentioned as a strong candidate to be McCain's running mate. But political rivalries know no boundaries, nor should they, when taxpayer dollars can be saved.
Schools, cities and counties are familiar with the concept of consolidating services and purchases to save money - though most could do an even better job of it. It's encouraging to see our state leaders take a similar approach on a larger scale. Frankly, it shouldn't take an economic crisis for governments to collaborate to save money. It should be the rule, rather than the exception.
But through their efforts, Doyle and Pawlenty are showing fiscal leadership that hopefully will be reciprocated by lawmakers and public employee unions when their consolidation proposals are put to a vote. And, hopefully, they've set a political example that will be replicated elsewhere.
