Make Legislators More Accountable, Not Less
We need to look at ways to make our legislators more accountable for their actions. Instead, we keep trying to go in the other direction.
Before extending the terms of Reps. from two years to four and Senators from four years to six, let's at least cut down or eliminate legislative pensions, put limits on bonding for projects, make the entire budget meetings process open to public view, and make committee votes available on-line the day they take place.
In fact, let's do all these good things and then leave the length of terms where they are.
posted by Kentucky Progress @ 11/30/2006 01:14:00 PM
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7 Comments:
Things you suggest have to be passed by the legislators, which puts these items in question. There is no real effort to give Representatives a four year term rather than a two year term (there was a Bill in the 2006 Session but it was not even discussed due to near zero support)and State Senators a six year term rather than a four year term.
Legislators who are not in leadership posts (which is most of them) earn between $27,000 and $35,000 a year (depending on if it is a long Session or short Session year). Many of those on their staffs (merit system employees which they have no say in the hiring, etc.) earn more than legislators do. Representatives run every other year and spend most of their first year's salary on their campaign as well as hours each day campaigning door to door and attending debates and other civic meetings. When they are not in Session they have three or more committee meetings a month somewhere in the Commonwealth. They are paid mileage for attending official legislative committee meetings and all other meetings with civic, school and community groups is on them (many travel thousands of miles each year attending those type of events).
It is hard now getting good people to run for the General Asembly due to what they have to put themselves though and the time away from their families. Many legisltors have another full time job (some are retired) so serving also takes away from their job or business.
This proposal must be stopped. The Constitution of the State of Kentucky is NOT deficient but many of our Legislators sure are. We don't need to further entrench the liberals and rinos.
Hey Beaverbear:
How about doubling the terms as well as the pay for all Legislators as long as they promise to never meet in Frankfort? That way we can save our remaining liberties and tax dollars.
2:27 PM spoken like a true Libertarian. Why not do away with state government altogether. We could repair the roads in front our homes with the tax money saved. If a bridge needed to be replaced, we could go back to ferrys and have private citizens operate them for a profit and keep the government out of it. We could all carry guns (which is not a bad idea) and protect ourselves and keep government out of it. Those unable to work, the truly needy, those unable to pay for their health problems and those with disabilities should be cared for by their families, friends or those who live nearby them and we could keep government and social workers (they would not be needed) out of it. We could all educate our own children, even those who are uneducated, low income and on drugs, the main thing is to keep the government out of it.
We would not need the General Assembly at all, therefore those brave citizens who have the guts to run for office (and many who take the time and money to do so lose) would not have to do so and could spend more time with their families.
There is no effort in the 2007 General Assembly that I am know about to add to the terms or salaries of General Assembly members, and if there was it would have very little support and the conservative members (there are a number of them) would gladly welcome the chance to vote against it. There was a Bill in the 2006 Session sponsored by a legislator that was not seeking re-election to make the terms longer. However that Bill was never even discussed due to near zero support.
I enjoyed reading your posting as it put a little fun in my day. Carry on good man.
I see Senate Bill 12 is a Bill to put on the ballot a Con. Amandment to allow the voters to decide to extend the terms of General Asembly members. I knew there was no such plan in the House. I predict this Bill will go nowhere and have little support. Even if it went on the ballot, citizens would defeat the effort.
When I am wrong, I say so. Sorry about that friends.
I wouldn't mind seeing state and federal representatives get four-year terms, in order to get them out of "permanent campaigning for re-election" mode.
One four year term and then they can't run again,or lobby, for another four years.
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