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A Minnesota Republican State
Legislator's Contract with Voters
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About
this
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Note: this a 2006 version of the contract; as you can see, it has
changed very little. Here's one possible version of a reasonable contract between Republican state
Legislative candidates and voters. It is rooted in the
essentials of a Republican form of Government, and the appropriate role
of each of the branches. This contract is intended to be a basis
for a Republican legislature that is both broadly representative and
principled.
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e-mail
questions and comments |
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A Minnesota Republican State
Legislator's Contract with Voters
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1§
The Legislature's minimum required task is to agree on a budget and a
tax system that serves all Minnesotans. |
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2
§ The Legislature, with 201 members from all around the State, and
a wide variety of backgrounds, is the branch of a Republican form of
Government responsible and best suited for lawmaking, policy, and
oversight. Unless a claimed right is either explicitly provided for
in the Federal or State Constitution, or has been established by
long-standing and reaffirmed precedent, the Courts should defer
to the Legislature for resolving controversies over rights. |
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3
§ The Legislature works best when it deliberates, not when
caucuses collide. Legislators of different parties need to socialize,
and to work together, especially in committees. Better law and
policy results when the core needs of different interests are
accommodated, through compromise whenever possible. |
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4
§ Partisan geographic divisions, (city/suburbs, metro/rural) are not in our
best interest. To avoid this, we understand and accept that
Republican legislators from different districts will represent different
interests. We expect this will also be true of DFL'ers, and other
parties. |
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5
§ Special interest money is poison -- it leads to interest group
politics. However, money in politics is Constitutionally
difficult or impossible to ban. 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 internet offers a great opportunity to
break down money-driven politics. |
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6
§ Some issues are matters of principle and beyond compromise,
while other issues are not. Legislative candidates should tell
their constituents which issues are, for them, beyond compromise, and
which issues are a question of simply finding a fair and reasonable
balance between legitimate competing interests. It is unreasonable
to ask anyone to do either more, or less, than this. |
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7
§ Minnesota has a history of maintaining a good "public-private
mix" -- a strong private sector combined with an excellent public
sector, including government and non-profits. This mix is the
foundation of what is often called the quality of life -- the
Minneapolis park system is an excellent example. We need to keep
asking: what is best done in the public sector? What is best done in the
private sector? Where do public-private combinations make sense? |
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8
§ With today's technology, there is no excuse for a voting process
that does not let the voter rank multiple candidates in order of
preference. An "instant runoff" system can let voters vote first
for the candidate they prefer most, and then have their second, or third
choice count when votes are retabulated after eliminating trailing
candidates. Our current system forces an artificial and
unnecessary choice: either a two-party system, or elected officials who
don't represent the choice of a majority of voters.
Revised @ August, 2008
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If you are interested in filing as a Republican candidate for the state
Legislature in the future (this year's filing date has passed), please
e-mail
questions and comments. You might also want to read:
Would you be a good Republican
Legislator?, and Campaign Financing
and the Internet.
back to home page
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Copyright © 2006, Robert S. Carney
Jr., 4232 Colfax Ave. So., Minneapolis, MN 55409. All rights reserved |
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think would be a good Republican Legislator?
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