Nov
28
Written by:
billsandvotes.com
Sunday, November 28, 2010 7:17 PM
The next time you're at the Capitol swing by one of the Senate offices and see if you can snag a copy of the Minnesota Government Relations Council Member Directory. It's like a list of all the House and Senate staffers, but with pictures. Technically those listed are lobbyists, but staff who have been around awhile will recognize many former colleagues among the lobbyist class.
A quick flip through the directory gave me a count of 44 former staffers and 19 former members, including a former House speaker and a former Senate Majority leader. A careful study of the directory through the years will show that lobbyists become members and members become lobbyists and staffers become members then lobbyists and back to staffers...
The proverbial revolving door. Nothing wrong with that per se, but it does highlight the existence of the political class and the pressing need for some lobbyists to update their photos.
All of which brings us to the list of House GOP leadership staffers released yesterday by Speaker-in-Waiting Kurt Zellers. For the most part it's great news. Especially the Chas Anderson part. Nobody in state government works harder than Chas or, with the possible exception of Dan McElroy, has a higher IQ. And Chas is a pretty solid conservative.
First thing we did when we found out Chas was appointed staff boss was send her the BillsandVotes.com list of GOP Reforms.
We hope Chas shares our belief that this 504 day period of GOP control of both chambers ain't gonna last. Hopefully the tone at the top will be one of reform, not the usual play it safe, think of the next election, constituent butt kissing, safe voting political strategery that leaves real reformers cold and uninspired.
Give us something to believe in, Chas. Your job is all about turning raw politics into state law. Make this temporary ownership of the House and Senate a time of real reform and political courage. That's why we're paying you the big bucks.