OTHER STATES: Same old politicians in MN

The politicians in Minnesota are spreading the same old lies by claiming they can "fix" the state by paying part-time legislators more:

"This salary is insufficient to attract many candidates who would otherwise be excellent legislators,” the task force’s report said."

The kind of people who you want to attract with high salaries are exactly the wrong kind of people to run the state. If people are in it for the salary, then they're not in it for the service of their constituents.

OTHER STATES: Virginia

Another great benefit of part-time legislatures is highlighted by this article from Virginia. Since part-time legislators have other careers, they are restricted from being able to propose laws related to their other careers for their own benefit. This is in stark contrast to full-time legislators who keep their other interests private and frequently write laws to their own advantage against the interests of the American people.

OTHER STATES: Wisconsin County

From the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter:

"The Calumet County Board has hit on a unique way to draw voters to the polls: Ask them whether they want to cut the state Legislature's pay. The board voted 11-10 Tuesday to ask county voters in a Nov. 7 advisory referendum if they would prefer a part-time legislature, with part-time paychecks, and as some county supervisors suggested, part-time damage."

This is the best way to make progress in the part-time movement - bring up the issue at all levels of government and hold politicians accountable.

OTHER STATES: Chuck Morse in PA

We welcome Chuck Morse to the part-time legislature movement - he is running for a Indiana State House seat and one of his primary proposals is to give Pennsylvania a part-time legislature. Good Luck to us all!

OTHER STATES: Wyoming praise

Vice-President Cheney visited his home state of Wyoming this week. I'm glad he took a moment to recognize the excellent part-time status of the state legislature:

"He said the small, part-time Legislature was "close to the ideal of a citizen legislature" -- lawmakers who are close to their constituents and not professional politicians."

OTHER STATES: Indiana Senators full-time benefits

This article in the Indianapolis Star tells the whole story in it's title alone: Senators' perks come with lifetime hypocrisy

Part-time legislators need to stay in touch with the reality of their jobs and stop trying to give themselves full-time benefits. (In fact, their part-time benefits are better than most people's full-time benefits - they keep forgetting that the whole purpose of being part-time is to stay in touch with the realities of their constituents!)

OTHER STATES: California "Golden Again"

Kudos to Scott Harris, executive director of Golden Again, for writing an opinion piece in the Pasadena Star-News. What he summaries for California is the same as what is needed in Michigan (but we need it worse):

"Evolution or revolution, political reform is coming to California.

The options are almost unlimited: Term limits, redistricting, open primaries, instant runoffs, cross-filing, third parties, unicameral house, part-time Legislature, parliamentary system."

OTHER STATES: Indiana

Kudos to Indiana State Senator Gary Dillon and State Representative Dan Leonard for recognizing the benefits of their part-time legislature:

“I think we have enough time,” he said. “I think a part-time legislature is the way to go." A part-time legislator goes back and lives with his constituents, knowing what they're thinking. “When you get into the situation where you are a full-time professional legislator, you lose some of that.”

OTHER-MI: Reducing the size

Yet another interesting proposal has appeared on the political scene. A new bill, introduced by State Representative Glenn Steil, a Republican from Cascade, would reduce the size of both houses of the Michigan State Legislature: Reduce the House from 110 members to 60 and reduce the Senate from 38 to 20.

This proposal is yet further proof that the people of our state are fed up with the bloated state legislature. Whether we're talking about moving to part-time (like almost all other states), moving to a unicameral legislature, or reducing the size, it's clear that the citizens of Michigan know that change is needed and it's needed now.

OTHER-MI: Unicameral Update

There has been some media attention on the Unicameral Legislature proposal. Among them is an interesting discussion on the Detroit News letters section for this issue. Among the most interesting comments:

"OK, do the math: California has 135 legislators for 30 million people. Michigan has 148 legislators for 9.5 million people!"