ST. PAUL — Senators and representatives at the Minnesota Capitol have until May 23 to decide how to borrow money for major public works projects and how to use the state’s record $9.25 billion budget surplus.
Each year, lawmakers have just a few months to make important decisions on policy and spending for the state of Minnesota, though some have suggested the state join the 10 others with a full-time legislature.
What stops that from happening now? Under the state Constitution, the Legislature may only meet 120 days each year and can not convene after the first Monday after the third Saturday in May. There is an exception to this rule: Under pressing circumstances, the governor can call lawmakers back to the capitol for a special session. Gov. Tim Walz has done so multiple times since he took office in 2019.
Supporters of a full-time legislature argue that such a change would help create a bigger pool of experienced lawmakers and allow for better consideration of policy and spending decisions. Two Twin Cities area Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers introduced a bill this month that would allow Minnesotans to vote on a constitutional amendment that would remove restrictions on the number of days lawmakers can meet each year.
Minneapolis DFL Rep. Jamie Long, who is sponsoring the bill in the House of Representatives, said the modern world demands a legislative body that can react quickly to fast-paced challenges.
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“The state’s challenges don’t stop in May, and we shouldn’t stop working for the people then either,” Long said in a statement in support of the bill. “We should follow the lead of states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio by stepping up to meet the complex issues of a 21st century economy.”
Paul Battaglia
Long and Senate sponsor Lindsey Port, a Burnsville Democrat, make several arguments in favor of year-round legislative activity. Budget projections are typically released in late February, and lawmakers typically have just three months to decide how to allocate funds, for one.
In a statement in support of a year-round legislature, Senate Minority Leader Melisa Lopez-Franzen, DFL-Edina, said the short turnaround period forces lawmakers to rely on large package bills, known as omnibus bills, to allocate funds and make policy decisions. Omnibus bills are often criticized for their lack of transparency, as many proposals are lumped into a single large bill.
Supporters also argue that under the current system many senators and representatives must hold other jobs in order to make a living, meaning office is more difficult to hold for people with middle and lower incomes. Lawmakers currently make a salary of $45,000 a year.
The bill proposing a full-time legislature is unlikely to gain traction this session and does not have the support of Senate leadership, though its introduction highlighted the different perspectives lawmakers have on how the Capitol should operate.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, this week rejected the concept of a full-time legislature, saying it would bring the negative aspects of national politics into the state capitol.
"Moving to a full-time legislature is an absolutely terrible idea and would move us more toward Washington, D.C.-style politics,” Miller said in a statement. “It’s important to maintain the current citizen-legislature to ensure we don’t have a legislature full of career politicians.”
California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin have full-time legislatures.
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