Today's political campaigns are too often about power and money. Sadly, it's getting to the point where citizens who are interested in seeking public office are often not able to compete with seasoned politicians and their pocketbooks. If we hope to re-engage citizens in our political process, we must limit the influence of special interests in campaigns, level the playing field between challengers and incumbents, and focus on issues that matter to Minnesotans. Governor's Office Electronic Government Services Initiative Electronic commerce over the Internet is a centerpiece of the global information revolution. Because citizens are going online at an ever-increasing rate, electronic commerce is at once global, national and local in both scope and impact.
Sound policy is essential for both the Internet and online commerce to reach their full potential.
The legal framework that supports commercial transactions on the Internet should be governed by consistent principles across state, national and international boundaries that lead to predictable results regardless of the jurisdiction in which a particular buyer or seller resides. With respect to electronic government services, a unified, common registry for all citizens, which includes licensing across state government agencies in a one-stop forum, must be implemented. Such a registry should be accessible for cross-reference among agency and other governmental files. Government purchasing, inventory, and sales, from goods to real estate, must be transacted and advertised on a central file server. Electronic tax filing, and payroll communications, also will be conducted online.