Here's a fairly uninformative but nonetheless intriguing excerpt from an interview with Gov. Mark Dayton's chief of staff, Tina Smith, posted by Civic Caucus , the Minneapolis public policy organization. If you're not aware of Civic Caucus, check out the website. They describe themselves as a "non-partisan, not-for-profit educational organization."
The interview occurred March 8, a lifetime ago in terms of DMC and the legislative session.
Regarding DMC:
The Governor believes in a public/private partnership to make sure the Mayo Clinic grows in Minnesota. Responding to a question about the Mayo Clinic's proposal for a public role in subsidizing its future growth in Rochester, Smith said, "The Mayo Clinic is a jewel. It's an incredibly powerful engine of economic growth in the state. It's a center of innovation and the largest private employer in the state. Mayo has proposed a new and innovative idea. It's a little different from the old-fashioned economic development tools. The questions are what is the appropriate role for the state and how do we pay for it."
