Somewhere between the polarizing red and blue caucuses of Democrats and Republicans is the new "purple caucus" proposed Monday by two state lawmakers.
State Sens. Roger Reinert, DFL-Duluth, and Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, announced their idea Monday at the Capitol, saying it was time to lead by example to create a new era of bipartisan politics.
They said the caucus will be open to any member of the Minnesota Legislature who is willing to place their "status as a Minnesotan above their individual party label."
Reinert said the idea comes not from the Minnesota Vikings football club but from the military term "purple units," which are composed of units from different branches of the military that work together. Reinert is a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
"I had this idea for our own 'purple unit' in the Legislature last year and I welcome the opportunity to move it forward with Sen. Miller this session," Reinert said in announcing the effort. "I served in a 'purple unit' earlier in my Navy career, and saw firsthand how you can have an affiliation but still work together for larger goals."
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Miller said that "most Minnesotans are tired of partisan politics. The question I get most often at home is 'Why can't you all work together?' With a group like this I think we can really have an influence on actually getting things accomplished, and doing what's best for the state of Minnesota."
Reinert said he also was inspired in the nonpartisan effort by his time on the Duluth City Council, where councilors don't list party affiliation.
Reinert said the caucus is aimed more at people sitting together to talk and listen and not so much at forging compromise between polarizing ideas on how to solve the state's most pressing problems.
The proposed guiding principles for the Purple Caucus come from the "Speak Your Peace" Civility Project. The tenets are as follows: (a) pay attention; (b) listen; (c) be inclusive; (d) do not gossip; (e) show respect; (f) be agreeable; (g) apologize; (h) give constructive criticism; (i) take responsibility. The only commitment of caucus members at this point is to meet on a semi-regular basis to discuss issues and share ideas.
