Sarvi Part 2: ‘People Are Ready to Change Ideas’

Part 1 of my interview with Steve Sarvi can be found here.

There’s more to being a Congressman than Iraq policy.  So where does Iraq veteran Steve Sarvi stand on domestic policy issues?

On health care, Sarvi keeps an open mind, saying that he believes in universal health care, but believes “it won’t happen all at once.  We must put our best minds together and work on the issue.  The quickest way to go is S-CHIP, to cover as many kids as possible, then start whittling away at other groups.”

I asked Sarvi about the Bush Administration’s vanguard education legislation, No Child Left Behind.  He responded that “there are some parts worth salvaging, but generally not.  I have a problem with teaching to tests, tying performance pay to test results — each year, kids are going to be a bit different, scores are going to go up a bit, down a bit.  We do need some way to be accountable, but with a mandate like that, we have to make sure we fund it.”

As the Twin Cities suburbs have trended toward DFLers at the state level, taxes have been one issue that has had many DFLers in a bind, activists and leaders alike worrying that a strong approach to raising tax revenue might leave freshmen legislators open to charges of tax-and-spend fiscal irresponsibility.  Sarvi says he learned a lot in city government about staying within means, and wants to take that thought process as he goes forward.  “As property values go up, cities have more money from property taxes, and our job was to be responsible — we’re not afraid to spend money when needed, but we want to avoid wasting money.  Giving a tax cut during war is just irresponsible. 

“Is it going to cost more to do some of the things we need to do?  Yes.  But are there ways to increase productivity, get people working, and raise revenues that way?  People are ready to change ideas.  It’s our job as leaders to make sure we do the best we can with the money we have.  Democrats have to be crystal clear about not taxing everyone to death — there’s a cost for living in this country, but we have to be fair about that as well.”

Sarvi says America “has to return to moral leadership in the world” and wants to be a part of that.  In a recent article at Congressional Quarterly, a representative of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee called him “very, very impressive.”  If the DCCC likes what they see and Sarvi can energize the DFL activist base in the Second district, he may just get his chance to help bring about the change he wants to see.