Is it time for a part time Legislature?

From the Herald:


The Massachusetts Legislature - one of only nine full-time bodies in the nation - is basically a part-time gig for more than half of the state’s 200 lawmakers, who hold down demanding, time-consuming jobs outside the State House, many as private attorneys and business owners.

The Bay State Legislature also shuts down for months at a time as lawmakers stump for re-election or higher office. Meanwhile, legislators take twice as long as their part-time counterparts in other states to do the people’s business, while sticking taxpayers with double the tab for travel, office redecoration and salaries, a Herald review found.

Vacations also are frequent and plentiful. In addition to all national holidays and the oft-ridiculed Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill holidays, lawmakers have the same vacation schedule as schoolchildren. That means weeklong breaks every February and April and empty halls during the summer after the state budget is complete.

“In effect the Legislature is already doing part-time work - the only difference is they are getting paid for the full 12 months,” said David Tuerk of the Beacon Hill Institute.

Among the lawmakers with busy outside interests:
# Senator/undertaker Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), who raked in $96,074 as a lawmaker and also pocketed more than $100,000 running R.J. Ross Funeral Home.
# Representative/theater owner Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham), who earns up to $100,000 operating the independent Dedham Community Theater, on top of his $68,561 state salary;
# Representative/greasy-spoon operator Robert Fennell (D-Lynn), who raked in $68,561 as a lawmaker but also slings hash browns and pancakes as the owner of Capitol Diner in Lynn.
# Senator/defense attorney Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell), who earns $95,719 as Senate Ways and Means chairman, also takes in up to $100,000 a year running his own general law practice.
# Click here to view the payroll for the House of Representatives and State Senate.

Watchdogs say that more time spent in session doesn’t always mean better laws, and argue that Beacon Hill pols need tighter deadlines because they procrastinate until the last minute.

A classic example came this year when lawmakers scrambled to finish a bill legalizing casinos and slot parlors by July 31st - holding a rare formal session on a Saturday and working past midnight.

The casino bill never passed.

“The problem with a full-time Legislature is you have too much time. People operate on deadlines,” said Patrick E. Bauer, speaker of the House in Indiana, which holds sessions only four months a year.

Part-time legislators in Indiana cost their taxpayers only $24 million in salaries and operating expenses even though they craft a similar budget and serve about the same number of people. By comparison, Bay State taxpayers shelled out $51 million this year to pay for and maintain their full-time lawmakers.

The next time you hear one of the party loyalist say we need a full time legislature...know that we don't.