May 6, 2008
Rep. Tony Sertich
House Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration
459 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Rep. Sertich and Committee Members:
The League of Women Voters Minnesota is pleased to support HF2554 which would
place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow the legislative and executive
branches of government to share the responsibility for calling a special session.
We believe that this bill is reflective of the principles of good government that
LWVMN advances and is in the best interest of Minnesotans.
Whether due to difficulties in reaching an agreement during the regular session
or in responding to a particular event, special sessions have been a common feature
in Minnesota. Discussion and debate on whether a special session is to be
called have been heated and often partisan. As the person with the sole authority
to make the decision, the governor holds a disproportionate amount of power in the
negotiations, which often take place behind closed doors with little substantive
input from the public. Members of the Legislature have repeatedly expressed
frustration with the lack of openness in the process.
LWV principles call for active and informed citizens and a government that is
responsive, accountable and that has a dynamic balance of power. These goals
are not well served with the current system. If the constitutional amendment
passes, legislators will still need to work with the governor to make sure that
any legislation they pass will be signed; the veto power currently held by the governor
will not be diminished. Sharing the power to decide when a special session
is called, however, will make the process more open, an essential feature of government
in a representative democracy.
The amendments recently made to the companion bill in the House of Representatives
limiting the length of the special session and clarifying the process for calling
the session provide appropriate checks to ensure that this power is not abused.
This is not an unreasonable proposal; legislatures in the majority of states hold
the power to call themselves into special session when needed. Elected officials
in Minnesota should enjoy the same ability to respond to the needs of constituents
as their peers around the country. We urge the committee to support HF2554.
Thank you for your consideration,
Vivian Jenkins Nelsen
Judy
Stuthman
Co-Presidents, League of Women Voters of Minnesota
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