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This coming Monday will mark six full weeks until the legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on May 20. MN Housing Day at the Capitol was on Wednesday. We discussed ways to make housing more affordable. On Thursday, students from St John’s Lutheran School from Norwood Young America came for a tour of the Capitol. There are many bills that people of our district continue to voice their opposition. These bills include 2nd Amendment restrictions, religious exemptions, the sanctuary state proposal, and having a full-time legislature.
In 1962, the number of legislative session days per biennium was changed from 90 days to 120 days. This year, HF 4598 was introduced to make changes as to how our state government works. If the bill passes this year, the proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2024 general election. The question submitted must be:
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require an independent redistricting commission to adopt boundaries for congressional and legislative districts following a decennial census; to prohibit members of the legislature from serving as lobbyists while in office and for a period of one year after leaving office; and to amend the requirements related to the timing and process for convening regular legislative sessions?
The question regarding an independent redistricting commission and prohibiting former legislators from serving as lobbyists for one year after leaving office has support from both sides of the aisle. However, the question regarding amending the requirements related to the timing and process for convening regular legislative session is problematic. This will remove the 120-day limit on regular session legislative days and potentially will create a class of professional politicians.
The limitation on legislative days allows members to maintain working in their profession when not in session. Elected officials bring unique experiences and areas of expertise. The limitation on the number of days in the legislative session allows opportunities for being in the district to hear the concerns and issues from the people they represent. This bill would make Minnesota like the state of California or like Washington D.C. It could create a class of career professional politicians who would have less interest in what’s best for their communities and more in how they can be reelected.
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