Minnesota House Democrats announce reform package

You’ve heard of the GOP’s Reform 2.0? Now, Democrats in the Minnesota House have some reform ideas of their own, according to multiple news sources.

Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, said Tuesday Democrats will introduce a package of changes that includes a way to prohibit future state government shutdowns and a plan to require fuller disclosure of outside income by legislators.

The DFL reform proposal includes these elements:

• Preventing future state shutdowns by continuing state appropriations at current levels if no budget agreement is reached by the end of the budget period. If the state is in deficit, the difference would be made up by one-half cuts and one-half income tax hikes.
• Close loopholes in the state law requiring legislators and executive branch officials to disclose their outside income. The legislation would require officials to disclose pay received as a "consultant or independent contractor" as well as a direct employee.
• Prohibit legislative sessions or any other public meetings at the Capitol between midnight and 7 a.m., and prevent private meetings at any time the State Capitol is closed to the public.
• Ban officials of political parties from holding public jobs.
• Creation of a redistricting commission to draw political boundaries in the future.
• Limits on the amount a governor can unilaterally reduce spending via the process known as "unallotment."

"In the last year, the Minnesota Legislature has been more dysfunctional than a Kardashian marriage," Winkler said. "Before legislators start targeting other people in state government, local government or in the private sector for reform, we need to put our own houses in order."

Winkler said his bill has 21 DFL authors, but no Republicans so far.