PART-TIME MI: Legislative Meddling

The Detroit News has an excellent article on the legislature meddling into the affairs of a private charitable foundation and it wraps with a great conclusion:

Once again, Michigan's lawmakers have proved they have too much time on their hands. Their constant forays into areas that are none of their concern continue to make the case for a part-time legislature.

The less time they're sitting in Lansing, the less damage they can do

PART-TIME MI: Detroit News

The Detroit News printed an editorial today on trading term limits for a part-time legislature. They've got the right idea in supporting a part-time legislature, of course, but there should not be any reason to trade term limits for it. Term limits ensure new faces every few years and fresh ideas with those new faces, so let's not trade away something useful just to convince a few extra people to support a part-time legislature - according to the polls, we've already got all the support we need once we get the issue on the ballot.

Some of the key points from the article:

Michigan is just one of 11 states with full-time lawmakers. Some big states, including Texas, Indiana and Minnesota, get by with legislators meeting just a few months a year.

A part-time body would accomplish term limits' goal of a citizen legislature, but would allow lawmakers to gain experience.

It would save money, focus legislators on essential business and force voters to pay more attention to who they elect.

OTHER STATES: California

The Los Angeles Times printed an article on the Republican primary in the 37th Assembly District being a fight for the soul of the party. On the right side of this fight is Bob Larkin, a businessman who "advocates returning to a part-time Legislature, as it was before 1966. In those years, a politician went to Sacramento "as a volunteer to make California better for their kids and grandkids," he said. Today, he said, lawmakers are so worried about getting reelected that they spend most of their time raising money and posturing."

REINVENT MICHIGAN: Press Release

We sent out a press release today announcing a final six week push to get the signatures needed to get on the ballot. We can definitely make this happen, but we need everyone to crank their engines and go full throttle from now till the July deadline to submit the petitions!

PART-TIME MI: Times Herald

Yet another editorial pushes Michigan towards a part-time legislature - this time it's the Times Herald in Port Huron asking why Governor Granholm doesn't bother asking Indiana why their legislature is so much more efficient as a part-time body in her many opportunities when working with them as our neighboring state.

INTERNATIONAL: Another Guam Update

Another editorial in Guam discusses the need for a part-time legislature there. Here is a central quote from the article:

A part-time Legislature would be more efficient because the limited time will ensure that the attention provided by the senators is dedicated to these three objectives. The limited time will require focus.

OTHER STATES: Pennsylvania update

Great News from Pennsylvania: Mark Harris, a major proponent of moving to a part-time legislature there had a great week: he graduated from college and won the primary election, knocking out the incumbent who had voted himself a huge pay raise in the last session!