Why a Full-Time Legislature Is a Terrible for Minnesota

For over a century and a half, the Minnesota Legislature has operated on a part-time basis, allowing lawmakers to return to their regular lives after each session. However, there's now a push from some influential Democratic figures to transition to a full-time legislature, citing reasons such as increased time for deliberation on critical issues and better budget oversight. But the truth is, a full-time legislature would spell disaster for the state.

Only 10 states currently maintain full-time legislatures, and their track record isn't encouraging. California is facing an eye-watering $73 billion budget deficit, while New York grapples with its own multibillion-dollar shortfall. These examples highlight the fiscal challenges and governance issues that can arise from a full-time legislative model.

Moreover, full-time legislatures have often been marred by political corruption scandals. In New York, for instance, leaders from both major parties were indicted on federal corruption charges in 2015. We don't need more questions of impropriety seeping into Minnesota’s political landscape. 

Additionally, the proposal to transition to a full-time legislature is bundled with other unrelated amendments to the state constitution, such as changes to the redistricting process and restrictions on lawmakers becoming lobbyists. This lack of transparency and clarity is troubling and deserves separate consideration for each issue.

Furthermore, the transition would come with a hefty price tag for taxpayers. Lawmakers in states with full-time legislatures earn an average salary of $112,000 per year, more than double the current salary for Minnesota lawmakers. This would place an unnecessary burden on taxpayers, especially given the state's existing fiscal challenges.

Ultimately, a full-time legislature would fail to address the underlying issues facing Minnesota's governance. Instead, it would exacerbate problems such as procrastination, brinkmanship, and partisanship. Rather than enabling career politicians to micromanage our lives, Minnesota needs innovative, collaborative, and bipartisan solutions to address its pressing challenges. Maintaining a part-time citizen legislature is essential to ensuring that lawmakers with real-life experience continue to represent the best interests of Minnesotans.