Friday, March 19, 2010 8:24 AM When the Republican freshmen of the 2011 - 2012 Minnesota Legislature take their seats on the floors of their respective chambers, they would do well to focus on the two little buttons in front of them.
As they begin their short 504 days as members of the House and Senate GOP Majorities they should understand that their primary value is not their legislative craftsmanship or their bold new ideas. It is their basic right to push one of those two little buttons - either green for Yea, red for Nay - each time they hear the beep from the Clerk's desk.
Voting is their new job. It's not speechifyin' or turning their offices into mini think tanks or sowing the seeds of their reelection - it's pushing buttons.
The DFL and GOP caucuses of the Minnesota House and Senate spend thousands of hours preparing and offering and debating hundreds of amendments and motions and demanding roll call votes on them. The Minnesota Constitution requires a roll call vote to pass every bill and Members are even given a little card to show the cops that they have privilege from arrest when they are on their way to the Capitol - to vote.
Because voting is the main thing, here are a couple of thoughts to bear in mind each time the board lights up for a roll call:
Am I voting this way because I want to fend off criticism? Republicans can never win for showing how much they care, so they shouldn't let the criticism get them down. They will always be accused of voting against the Outside, the farmers, the Rangers, the children, the seniors, the schools and the vets. Hey - you are not a monster. You're just taking the mess that was dropped in your lap and trying to fix it.
Will my vote benefit or at least hold harmless all Minnesotans? Government workers and local officials are among the neediest of all citizens, but they are not your constituents. Taxpayers are your constituents. And by "taxpayers," of course, we mean people who work in the private sector. Now that the election is over they may be too busy making ends meet to pay much attention to you. You toil more or less thanklessly on their behalf. Try to do some good by them.
Am I voting this way because I want to get reelected? Don't even go there, man. The GOP has 504 days to show Minnesotans they are about doing what is right. Hopefully the Freshmen Class doesn't harbor any thoughts of clinging to their memberships in the exclusive Legislative Club.
While their election certificates do require them to vote, they do not require freshmen to write bills, give speeches, lecture or otherwise put their ignorance on display. (Here's a hint freshies: If your mike suddenly goes dead in the middle of one of your brilliant Floor dissertations, you may have gone too far. It has happened before.)
Their value isn't in "bringing a fresh perspective to St. Paul." All of their ideas have been drafted, heard, amended, passed, defeated, signed, vetoed and repealed many, many times in the past.
And they shouldn't wear themselves out chasing campaign promises based on trends like zero-based budgeting. They may bring some publicity, but they take energy away from lass flashy but more viable reforms. (Many of which, along with the flashy stuff, is conveniently listed here.)
Access to those two buttons is what gives the GOP freshmen their power. There are 33 of them in the House and 21 in the Senate - a large enough block to keep Leadership honest if they stick together. Republicans didn't plan on this majority thing and they certainly haven't earned it - yet.
If they have to write legislation, they should start with a list of reforms to promote and search for similar ideas in past bill introductions. There is a treasure of reform ideas in old bills that never reached the governor's desk. I’m sure the new governor will welcome them.