Part-Time Legislature, Anyone?
From the western reaches of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to Detroit? Joe Karius, publisher of the Ironwood Daily Globe, calls for a part-time legislature.

Michigan and neighboring (if you're in the U.P.) Wisconsin are two of just a handful of states with a full-time legislature.

Karius cites not only the expense of legislators (in Wisconsin, the going rate for a legislatore is $45,000 a year for salaries alone, not to mention per diem pay and up to five staffers).

He says "With the legislator job part-time, the office-holder would still have to hold a job in the real world, giving him or her a better idea of the impact of too many laws of just plain stupid laws."

Put this question on that list of "I would like to look at some research into this question, but it looks like a good idea" policy ideas.

But I doubt that any state that has gone from a part-time to a full-time legislature has ever gone back. If anyone knows otherwise, please drop me a line. (permalink)