Politics & Government

Term Limit Increase, Education Bills On the Radar For Local Legislators

Sen. Jim Metzen threw his support behind a bill that would increase legislative term limits, but stringently opposes a bill eliminating teachers' right to strike.

When Jim Metzen first became a state senator, he joked, it took him two years just to figure out where the bathrooms at the State Capitol were.

All joking aside, Metzen is one of several legislators who have thrown their support behind a constitutional amendment that would increase the term limits for representatives and senators in the Minnesota Legislature by two years. Authored by District 5 Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL) and introduced on March 17, the bill would grant state representatives a four-year term, while state senators would only need to worry about re-election every six years. Representatives and senators currently serve two-year and four-terms, respectively.

The bill, Metzen said, would give newly elected members of the legislature more time to learn the ropes of their offices before worrying about re-election. It would also free up veteran legislators to focus on the issues and bills important to them. The bill, SF 686, was referred to the Senate’s State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee. Before the amendment can be approved, it would have to be submitted to a statewide public vote during the 2012 general election.

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“I just think that two years in the house is just terrible. You barely get started,” Metzen said. “You’re always campaigning.”

But District 39B Rep. Joe Atkins, who is subject to a two-year term in the house, said he opposes the measure.

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“I think the current terms are plenty,” Atkins said. “The more often that voters get an opportunity to weigh in on your performance, I think the better it is.”

The length of term limits isn’t the only issue confronting Inver Grove Heights’ local representatives. Both Metzen and Atkins expressed their misgivings over a host of new education bills drafted by Republican legislators.

One, a measure proposed by District 42 Sen. David Haan (R) that would eliminate teachers’ right to strike and would impose a three-month limit on the contract negotiation process between teachers unions and school districts, drew stiff opposition from Metzen.

“He’s wrong on both fronts,” Metzen said.

“The situation has worked over the years, and worked pretty darn well,” said Metzen, referring to the contract negotiation process. “There have been very limited strikes over the past few years. He’s trying to destroy the unions, and that’s the overall theme.”

Atkins reaction to a Republican-backed bill moving through the House that would replace the tenure system for teachers with a performance-based evaluation system was more muted.

Proposed by District 49B Rep. Branden Petersen, the bill would change the terms of employment for all K-12 teachers so that decisions about teachers' continued employment over five-year periods are informed by measures of teachers' performance effectiveness.

Speaking generally, Atkins said he was in favor of an evaluation system for teachers, which he believes would improve teachers’ performance. But Atkins had reservations over eliminating the tenure system altogether, saying that teachers who perform well among students could more easily fall victim to administrative politics without tenure in place.

“Sometimes the very best, most creative and innovative teachers could be the ones that potentially lose their jobs,” Atkins said.

Sen. Jim Metzen

New Activity:

—Metzen authored a bill appropriating money for job and economic development within the state. SF899, introduced on March 17.

Existing legislation:

— A bill authored by Metzen to appropriate $200,000 in 2012-2013 for grants develop and implement pollution prevention plans for designated lakes and rivers was referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. SF 796, introduced on March 14.

– A bill co-authored by Metzen that would appropriate $2.47 million  in 2013 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for the Minnesota Zoological Board is awaiting a hearing on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. SF 763, introduced March 14.

Rep. Joe Atkins

New Activity:

— Atkins is listed as a co-author of a resolution urging the United States Congress and President Barack Obama to shift their funding priorities from war to "meeting the essential needs of us all." HF 1249, introduced on March 21.

— A bill co-authored by Atkins seeks to expand residential property owners' rights. HF1254, introduced on March 21.

Existing Legislation: 

— A bill that authored by Atkins that permits wine tasting and wine sales for an annual festival to be conducted by an organization representing Minnesota's grape growers has been referred to the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee. HF787, introduced on March 3.

— A bill Atkins co-authored that would appropriate $3 million in 2012 from the clean water fund to fuel grants for inflow and infiltration reduction projects in the metropolitan areas was referred to the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance. The bill is designed to prevent degradation of groundwater. HF 1127, introduced on March 14.


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