Why I will vote "No" on Tuesday

There will be a Constitutional Amendment question on the Minnesota ballot. It will state:

Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove state lawmakers' power to set their own salaries, and instead establish an independent, citizens-only council to prescribe salaries of lawmakers?

On the surface, this sounds like a fantastic idea, but here is why I will be voting “No.”

Transparency. Let's be realistic - an “independent” council is never really independent – especially in the state of Minnesota (MET Council, anyone?).  Members of the council would be hand-picked by the governor and the Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice. Even though it is to be made up by members of both parties in equal numbers, it is wrought with opportunity for special interests, political agendas and corruption.  I understand the legislature may want to hand this responsibility over to avoid the appearance of “conflict of interest,” but honestly, I feel as though they are passing the buck.

Accountability.  Under a clause in the state’s constitution, legislators are required to set pay for a wide range of public officials — including themselves. Part of their job is to approve the budget for the entire state and determine our taxes.  If they can make these other financial decisions, I think they should be able to discern an appropriate salary for themselves.  Whether they prove themselves capable or not, they should be held accountable for it.

This amendment has enjoyed some bipartisan support, which is why we haven't heard much about it in the news.  The argument has been made that legislators are in a no-win situation when it comes to this subject.  If they vote for a pay increase, the electorate cries foul (conflict of interest).  In fact, many have lost their seat for voting in favor of a pay increase in the past.  On the other hand, if they do not vote for a pay raise, we risk losing good legislators, due to reasons of insufficient income for their family. That is unfortunate.

But, for me – that is sort of the point.  Personally, I want our legislators to consider very carefully whether it is appropriate and prudent to increase their salary. I want people to serve their state not in financial hardship, but also not a career path.  I don’t want them to be too comfortable that they never leave.  I appreciate that they need to go back to their districts and present their case for a raise and justify their votes up or down. That is what responsibility and accountability look like.  I don’t want them sloughing it off on some independent committee, where they can shrug their shoulders and plead ignorance.

As a matter of a fair living wage... serving in the MN state legislature is meant to be a part-time job. An article at Minnpost.org does a fairly good job outlining the amendment on the ballot, and the salary structure of the MN state legislators. 

In 2016, the MN Legislature was in session from March 8 through May 23. That is 104 days (minus holidays and including weekends).  So, if the average legislator receives a salary of $32,000, plus an $85 per diem while in session… the compensation would be right around $40,000. Legislators who live further away receive more per diem due to their commute/lodging expenses while in session. Those in leadership also receive an extra $12,000 bonus.

No, this really is not enough to support a family, if that is an annual income. And, I will concede that our state leaders probably work pretty hard for that pay. But, they do not work as our legislators all year. So hopefully, like their constituents, they supplement that income the other 261 days of the year with another job or with spousal income. The bottom line is, it was never meant to be a career. Is that to say our legislators shouldn’t receive a comparable income to their peers in different states? No. Are they? I will let you be the judge (ballotpedia.org). We all have different perspectives on earnings and can make that determination independently at the ballot box when our state representatives run for re-election.

This year we must confront the issue of process versus pay. Do we choose to keep our legislative body responsible and accountable for determining their pay, or turn it over to a independent council?  Since  we have a system of government where we place our trust in individuals charged with protecting our interests and promoting our well-being as a state, I believe it should remain in their domain. After all, an independent council does not have that relationship with Minnesota voters; they have no accountability or obligation to the citizens of this state.  Instead, they are serving at the pleasure of whomever appoints them.

Yeah, I don't like the odds...

I am voting "No."