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Until the last election, ordinary Minnesota citizens, who have full-time jobs, served part time making laws. That is being changed.
When Rep. Ken Tschumper reported at a meeting that he had taken on 17 committee and subcommittee posts, held hearings all over the state and hosted community meetings, I thought he was just working hard.
With a salary, you are expected to take assignments without additional pay. That is not the way our Legislature works. Representatives and senators receive a salary for legislative sessions and can take “per diem” expenses. With extra committee assignments, hearings and task groups, some legislators draw “per diem” pay all year long.
The DFLers in the Twin Cities have abused the system for a long time. With the DFL in control of the Legislature, the practice has become widespread.
Task groups are multiplying rapidly in the Legislature along with staff. Many of these groups seem to work at cross purposes to already standing committees. The cost to taxpayers is hard to determine. House Democrats chose to double their operating budget from $324,000 to $646,000 during a House Rules Committee meeting in August.
Increased support to schools was about 3 percent and nursing homes received even less, but the Legislature with 80 House Democrat committees has increased by 100 percent. This isn’t right. Do we want to be just like Wisconsin with full-time
legislators and deep in debt?
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