Legislators pitch amendments on guns, health care, labor and — amendments

(Minnesota Historical Society)

When legislators want to make major changes to law, sometimes they put the law to the voters to decide. This year, legislators want to know where the voters stand on issues like guns, health care and labor unions. There’s even a bill to ask the voters whether the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to change the way the state amends it.

None of these bills has advanced in the Legislature, but if they did, it could mean a crowded ballot in November 2010.

Republicans, and a few DFLers, want to amend the Minnesota Constitution (HF 415, SF 582) with language from the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment would read, “The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms for the defense and security of the person, family, or home or for lawful hunting, recreation, or marksmanship training is fundamental and shall not be abridged.”

Four DFLers have joined a slate of Republicans pushing for the amendment: Reps. Larry Howes, R-Walker; Al Doty, DFL-Royalton; Steve Smith, R-Mound; Mark Murdock, R-Ottertail; John Persell, DFL-Bemidji; Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha; Ron Shimanski, R-Silver Lake; Tom Emmer, R-Delano; Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead; Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont; David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake; and Dave Olin, DFL-Thief River Falls; and Sens. Bill G. Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria and Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington.

Another bill has been proposed that would make it harder to amend the state Constitution by requiring a three-fifths majority of the Senate and House in order to put an amendment to the people. The bill (SF 233) is offered by Republican Sens. Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley and Julianne Ortman of Chanhassen, and DFLers Tom Bakk of Cook, John Marty of Roseville and Ann Rest of New Hope.

Sens. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, Amy T. Koch, R-Buffalo, and Rep. Ron Shimanski, R-Silver Lake, want to impose term limits on senators and representatives. If the bill (HF 770, SF 78) passed, the language on the ballot would read, “A person may not be elected more than three times to the office of senator or five times to the office of representative. A person may not be elected more than twice to the office of governor nor more than twice to the office of lieutenant governor. A person may not be elected more than twice to the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or state auditor.”

DFL legislators want the lieutenant governor gone. Reps. Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis and Mindy Greiling of Roseville join Sen. Ann Rest of New Hope in offering a bill to ask the voters (HF 296, SF 98) to abolish the office.

Republicans have offered a constitutional amendment to “establish a right to work.” In actuality, the bill (SF 439, HF 169) would prohibit an employer from requiring membership in a union as a condition of employment. The bill would ask voters, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit any person, as a condition of employment, from being required to become a member of a labor union or pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind to a labor union or to any charity or other third party in lieu of such payments?” It is sponsored by Reps. Tom Emmer of Delano, Mark Buesgens of Jordan, Tom Hackbarth of Cedar, Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove, and Keith Downey of Edina, and Sens. David Hann of Eden Prairie, Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley, Bill G. Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria, and Amy Koch of Buffalo will

No more pluralities. DFL legislators want elected officials to get 50 percent plus one of the vote in order to serve in office. If the bill (HF 440) passes, the voters will be asked, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require that an executive officer, judge, or legislator must be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the general election for the office sought?”

Legislators sponsoring the bill are: Kent Eken of Twin Valley, Mindy Greiling of Roseville, Bill Hilty of Finlayson, Tony Sertich of Chisolm, Sheldon Johnson of St. Paul, Will Morgan of Burnsville, Brita Sailer of Park Rapids, Lyle Koenen of Clara City, Bernard Lieder of Crookston, Loren Solberg of Grand Rapids and Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis.

Republican House members are looking to have their Senate counterparts elected in staggered terms, with half up for reelection every two years instead of the full Senate elected every four years. The bill (HF 408) reads, “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require that, as nearly as possible, one-half of the members of the Senate stand for election at each biennial election of legislators, commencing in 2012?”

The Republicans on the bill include: Reps. Laura Brod of New Prague, Bob Dettmer of Forest Lake, Paul Kohls of Victoria, Steve Smith of Mound, Tom Hackbarth of Cedar, Doug Magnus of Slayton; Randy Demmer of Hayfield, Dean Urdahl of Grove City, Tara Mack of Apple Valley, Matt Dean of Dellwood, Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove, Morrie Lanning of Moorhead, Michael Beard of Shakopee, Tim Kelly of Red Wing, and Ron Shimanski of Silver Lake.

A “freedom of choice in health care” amendment has been submitted by Republicans. The bill (HF 171, SF 325) is a clear response to increasing support for the Minnesota Health Plan Act, which would eliminate private health insurance while ensuring doctor and clinic choice.

“Because all people should have the right to make decisions about their health care, no law shall be passed that restricts a person’s freedom of choice of private health care systems or private health plans of any type,” the measure reads in part.

The bill is sponsored by Reps. Tom Emmer of Delan and Mark Buesgens of Jordan, and Sens. Amy Koch of Buffalo, David Hann of Eden Prairie, Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley, Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria and Ray Vandeveer of Forest Lake.