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 Our Citizen Legislature
by Tom Campbell
July 2, 2009
The North Carolina Constitution of 1776 emphatically demonstrated a genuine distrust of executive power; our colony was still incensed over abuses by the English crown. Voters in each county selected their legislators for one-year terms. The message was clear: Represent us well or be replaced. This system has basically served us well even with some modifications. We find ourselves needing further revisions today.
Few could have envisioned that government would have grown so large and so complex. To deal with the size and complicated nature of large government legislative sessions have grown longer, restricting the number who will serve. One-third of our legislators are over 60, with the remainder consisting of the wealthy, representatives of special interests and even some who have no other income than their paltry legislative income.
We are far from convinced a full time legislature would be better. We readily agree our lawmakers must be compensated considerably more. Let us focus on fixing our current part-time legislature, starting with shorter sessions. Lawmakers balk at the notion of prescribed session limits but they have demonstrated little discipline in controlling session lengths. There is no evidence longer sessions produce better legislation. Perhaps the opposite might be the case. Shorter sessions require less time away from jobs and family, logically attracting a larger and perhaps better qualified pool from which voters can choose. Shorter sessions are essential.
0,000 is the starting price to conduct a legislative campaign, another major problem. Lobbyists, special interest groups, PAC’s and the wealthy fund today’s campaigns, most all with their own agenda. Every idea to bring down costs or limit contributions either violates First Amendment rights or ensures that better known incumbents and wealthier politicians win. We do favor reducing the current ,000 per election per donor contribution limit by as much as one-half. Somehow we must restrict the so-called 527 groups who are playing a greatly expanded role, although the courts have granted them generous protection.
Shut off the unlimited flow from political parties and you serve another valuable purpose. Too few serve in legislative leadership too long. The legislature is a go-along to get-along club. Play ball with the leadership and your bills get voted on, you get better committee assignments, but you also benefit from large contributions from leadership. Leaders have become the chief fundraisers and distributors of largesse from Lobbyists, PAC’s and other groups wanting favor. The leaders dole out the dough to friends they want to get elected through unlimited contributions to the political parties, who then give unlimited “in-kind” contributions to candidates. Shut off the money and you reduce the dependence on and obeisance to leadership.
We need to limit the number of terms leadership can serve to no longer than the Governor can serve. Term limits might be a consideration, but without question we need to eliminate the legislative retirement system. We don’t want them serving long enough to retire.
More stringent ethics laws and independent review panels would help. The laws that require public officials to conduct their business in open meetings do not apply to legislators and should. Sunshine is the best curative for government.
With some intentional revision our legislature could be more effective and representative, restoring the public trust our founders sought. These ideas won’t happen until the public insists on change. While we celebrate the birth of our nation we should consider our citizen legislature and how it can be improved.
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