One of the few saving graces to Minnesota’s legislature – even when it’s not dominated by the DFL – is that it is part-time. It meets for a couple of months a year, and then the members go back about their business.
Which, for most DFLers, means back to job somewhere in the non-profit-industrial complex.
But that’s just not good enough:
Currently, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota says the Minnesota Legislature cannot meet for more than 120 “legislative days” per biennium. Additionally, the legislature is required to adjourn in May every year. As such, the Minnesota House and Senate do not typically meet from June through December. However, occasional, short-term “special sessions” can be called by the governor for certain situations when the legislature is not in regular session.
Therefore, the Minnesota Legislature is typically referred to as a “part-time” or “citizen” legislature. The vast majority of state legislatures in the Union do not operate on a full-time basis. Only a few states, such as California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, run full-time legislatures.
Should HF 4598 be passed into law, voters would be asked if the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to remove the requirements that the Minnesota Legislature only meet for 120 legislative days and adjourn in May. Specifically, the proposed law would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot proposing this change. The registered voters of Minnesota would decide whether to keep the legislature as it is, or change it.
Currently, the legislature meets for 120 days out of every biennium, barring special sessions.
Assuming they’ll take plenty of time off, assume they’ll triple their “work” year, and at least triple their salary.
And, sooner than later, their taxation and spending.
Can’t help noticing that the states with full time legislatures are all leftist with large societal and economic issues.
I noticed that too, boss.
It would seem to me that the part-time aspect of the job was due to the real-world concerns of most legislators. That being in the legislature was kind of a shitty-job-but-someone’s-got-to-do-it thing so they would meet up, decide what needs deciding, and head home.
Right up until the DemoCommies decided to fulfill Tytler’s prediction, A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy
As Gideon Tucker observed, “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session”.
Apparently, the DFL wants to take away that “honeymoon” period now.
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