American Experiment Task Force on Legislative Reform Releases Recommendations to the Legislature Task Force finds that challenges must be addressed if MN legislature is to remain a first-class institution MINNEAPOLIS, MN - A few days before the 2006 Minnesota legislative session begins, American Experiment's bipartisan Policy Blueprint Task Force on Legislative Reform released its recommendations for improving Minnesota's legislative process.   "While our legislative system is not broken, it is in need of reform and that reform should begin right now," said Task Force co-chair Roger Moe.  "By its very nature, the legislative process should be deliberative and sometimes inefficient," added Task Force co-chair Chris Georgacas.  "That's why the goal of this report isn't necessarily to make the process more efficient but instead to make it more effective." The Task Force's report, entitled Devoted to Some Useful Purpose: Reforming Minnesota's Legislature for the 21st Century, found that "comparatively, Minnesota's Legislature operates as effectively as or more effectively than many state legislatures from around the nation."  For example, the Task Force praised the legislature for what works well, including the fact that the vast majority of legislators are in office for the right reason -- to faithfully serve their constituents.    However, it also concludes that challenges in the legislative process "must be addressed if the Minnesota Legislature is to remain a first-class institution that effectively serves the state's citizens."   The report makes several recommendations to address those challenges.  The recommendations were separated into the following five categories: Budget Process, Non-Budget Process, Political Reforms, Socialization and Culture, and Legislative Training.   Here are the recommendations from each category:    Budget Process Revitalize the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) and better utilize the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy In years in which the budget is being considered, the Legislature should reorganize its calendar, especially to devote time in the first month of session to legislative training and reflection The House and Senate should have parallel, or coordinated, finance committees Enact statutory deadlines throughout the budget process The governor's budget presentation to relevant finance committees of the Senate and House should be made jointly between bodies The House of Representatives and Senate should set joint spending targets for each of the major appropriations bills by a fixed date Count certain special session days against total number of allowable legislative days Avoid adopting "automatic" continuing budget resolutions Capital Investment committees should tour sites together Non-Budget Process House and Senate should adopt joint rules Enforce the single-subject rule Form a "Council on Minnesota's Future" working group Political Reforms Reform legislator compensation Reform the electoral system Redistricting should be done by an independent commission Socialization and Culture House and Senate leadership should consider organizational changes to encourage bipartisan and bicameral interaction among members Increase opportunities for legislators to broaden their understanding of issues within the state and the nation as a whole Review legislative office space needs Legislative Training Improve and expand training for incoming legislators, committee leaders, caucus leaders, and legislative staff Initiate biennial legislative retreat and Continuing Legislator Education program Encourage legislators to use 'power to convene' The Task Force also made "external recommendations" for the news media and citizenry, including encouraging the media to reexamine the amount of the coverage they devote to the legislature, and encouraging the citizenry to reacquaint themselves with the legislative process.     "It's no coincidence that this report is being released just days before the gavel convenes the 2006 Minnesota legislative session," said American Experiment President and CEO Annette Meeks. "It is our hope that legislators will give this report their most serious consideration." The Task Force for Legislative Reform, co-chaired by former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe and former Minnesota Republican Party Chair Chris Georgacas, was formed last October by Center of the American Experiment to analyze the inner-workings of the Minnesota legislature, diagnose current factors that impede progress and effectiveness, and recommend reforms that would help improve the legislative process.  The Task Force is the latest in a series of Policy Blueprint studies sponsored by American Experiment.  It met over the course of several months and sought input from experts on legislative process, consulted people who are most familiar with the operations of the Minnesota legislature, and invited current Minnesota legislators, legislative staff, and a select group of close Capitol observers to participate in a survey on the legislative process. (A list of task force members, along with their biographies, can be seen here) ###