Without spending cuts and reductions in the state workforce that reflects the current economic realities then there really isn't a true common ground. Several thousand private sector employees have been laid off in the last 18 months. The state has cut unfilled but budgeted positions. 
To me, common ground is one that is sustainable that spreads the pain across each of the employment sectors equitably. 
For example, DHSS employees having time to tweet their presidential preferences on taxpayer time using taxpayer resources. Or another, handing out one thousand dollar bonuses to teachers. Not to mention the school district in question is millions of dollars in the hole, laying off new teachers and increasing class sizes.
Give me the blocks and I'll get'r done.