News Release: Minnesota Republicans call for return to a non-partisan legislature; state legislative reform

 

From: www.republicancontract.com

Contact: Cassandra Harvey, Publicist -- 218-591-6678 -- cassie@republicancontract.com

News groups: Capitol, College, Daily, Law/Politics, National, Neighborhood

For immediate release

No New Texas!

Minnesota Republicans call for return to a non-partisan legislature; state legislative reform

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Minnesota "Lindsey Republican" Lyall Schwartzkopf calls for return to a non-partisan legislature.

Former Republican House Speaker Sviggum: public financing for State Legislature is working well.

Republican State Representative and transportation veto overrider Tinglestad supports "instant runoff" elections.

Call for reform is being e-mailed to entire state legislature

New political documentary will be previewed on DVD bus tour, details and registration at www.republicancontract.com

 

Minneapolis, MN, August 26^th, 2008 – Minnesota Republican Lyall Schwartzkopf has called for Minnesota to return to a non-partisan legislature.  His call, and his reasons, are in part one of a new political documentary series: Escape From History Part I: The Minnesota Legislature.  On Tuesday, September 2nd, extended excerpts from the documentary will be shown on a bus tour of the historic Minneapolis Milling District, and part of the Minneapolis Grand Rounds of Parkways.  The tour is for members of the media, Republican Convention delegates, and Minnesota legislators and legislative candidates. This tour is a must for anyone reporting about Minnesota topics, including state and local politics, during the upcoming Republican National Convention.  The entire Minnesota State Legislature will be receiving this news release, and is being invited to ride on the bus tour.

Escape From History Part I: The Minnesota Legislature. also features an eight point "Minnesota Republican State Legislator's Contract with Voters," ("the contract") and then Republican Minnesota House Speaker Steve Sviggum's detailed comments on the contract points.  Sviggum appears to endorse seven of the eight points.  "This contract is designed to re-focus our attention on the process of a republican form of government, and to return the Minnesota Republican party to what has been historically a more moderate, less ideological approach to politics," said Bob Carney Jr., producer and writer of the documentary.  All state House members and candidates, of all parties, will be asked to respond to each point of the contract.  "The challenges Minnesota faces are serious, and we need to start moving towards a more non-partisan approach now, to prepare for a productive legislative session in 2009," Carney said.

"Lindsey Republican" Schwartzkopf favors return to non-partisan legislature

From 1913 to 1974, Minnesota had a non-partisan legislature.  According to Lyall Schwartzkopf, the switch from a partisan legislature to a partisan legislature "was a severe mistake, very, very severe mistake. And what happened out of that is the enormous partisanship that we have today. To break that partisanship we have today, we need to go back to a non-partisan legislature... which for the people's viewpoint is a much better system."  Speaking of his own role in leading the switch to a partisan legislature in the 1970's, Schwartzkopf said: "I was wrong -- I was wrong to convince people to change the Constitution to a partisan legislature. The reason I did that though, is because I really think we have destroyed political parties in this country. And the more we destroy political parties, the more the rise of special interest groups. And I don't think special interest groups are good for the country. I think a broad based political party, where money comes in from the people, goes into a party, gets all mixed up, on a broad basis, is a much better thing than specific money for a specific cause, for a specific group, to elect specific people."

Schwartzkopf is also reconsidering his support for the partisan pre-primary endorsement system.  "Although I strongly supported the pre-primary endorsement system in the party, I think that that can be, as I've seen in the past few years, that can be captured by different kinds of special interest groups, and I think that's not healthy for the public, nor for the party, and so therefore I would like to see a different system for pre-primary endorsement."  As one possible alternative, Schwartzkopf  "would have no problem with being able to endorse maybe two or three Republican candidates, rather than just one Republican candidate to run for an office." 

Schwartzkopf has served as a Minneapolis Republican State representative, as chairman of the Hennepin County Republican party, and as chief of staff for Republican Governor Arne Carlson.  In 1968, Schwartzkopf was the only Republican National Convention delegate to cast a first (and only) ballot presidential vote for John Lindsey, then the Republican Mayor of New York.  Schwartzkopf recounts his thinking at that time: "My concern was that Senator Goldwater had a reputation that would not make him electable... I saw all kinds of young people coming up, 18 to 25, 18 to 35 year olds, move into the Democratic party because they weren't going to support Goldwater.  So, for four years, we had a dearth of young people in the Republican party.  In 1968, I thought the same thing would happen again... After four years, I figured, we can't have another four years, or eight years in all, of not having new young blood coming into the party.  And so, therefore, I wanted to vote for somebody who would be able, who's young, agressive, energetic, had a good reputation, ran a good administration, to be a presidential candidate.  And that's why I voted for John Lindsey."  Responding to this question: "do you think that the same thing is happening today in terms of young people?," Schwartzkopf acknowledge this is a possibility, but noted McCain was successful in 2000 in attracting young people.

Former Republican House Speaker: Public Campaign Finance for Legislature works

Schwartzkopf identified the danger of political dominance by special interest money.  In a 2006 interview, former Minnesota House Speaker Steve Sviggum endorsed point 5 of the contract: "The best option is public campaign financing, including both income tax check-offs, and the current Minnesota option for individuals to receive a rebate for their contribution up to $50. 

The Minnesota system includes maximum spending limits, public financing, and a $50 rebate for contributions made to eligible state campaigns.  Sviggum said: "I can tell you, all Republican campaigns have been within those limits.  The only ones to exceed them have been Democrats... If you don't stick within that campaign limit, that $28,000, whatever it is right now... if you don't stick within that, and sign a form with the ethical practices [board], then your contributors do not get the $50 and $10 back... And also, if you don't stay within the spending amount, you don't get the public money back," Sviggum said.

State Representative Tinglestad supports "instant runoff" elections.

Point 8 of the contract calls for support of "instant runoff" elections.  Under this system, voters can rank their preference for candidates.  Votes are tabulated in multiple rounds.  If a voter's first choice is eliminated, the voter's second choice is counted on the next tabulation round.  This process continues until a winner emerges who represents the preference of a majority of voters.

Instant runoff voting is supported by Republican Representative Kathy Tinglestad (Coon Rapids/Andover), one of the six Republican state representatives who voted to override Governor Tim Pawlenty's transportation veto.  Tinglestad said: "I know that it's been looked at for some City Council races, as sort of, let's just try it out, and maybe work the kinks out, you know, they looked at doing that for the legislative level. But, like you say, the dynamics of some of the big statewide races, where, you know, the candidate who doesn't have more than 50 percent can still win because it's a three way race. And, you know I don't think our American founders had that in mind when they set up this system."   Carney interjected: "Well, it's certainly going to be a narrower base that you're building a political structure on, if you don't have a person who was selected by a majority of the voters. So you would say that you're in favor of that?" Tinglestad continued her answer: "Yeah, probably one of the few Republicans that is. But, you know, I travel around the world, looking at how governments are set up, and you know what we have is somewhat of a rare situation, with the two party system. You know, most other countries will have many political parties, where there's coalition building. And sometimes, you know, the same coalition may be in power for quite awhile. But at least it offers possibilities and opportunities to do things differently. And to some extent, I think that would be, so that the people involved, the legislators, would have to work together better, and it would probably improve our results for the type of legislation that we have."

Both Sviggum and Schwartzkopf oppose instant runoff voting,

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