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State Representative Pat Garofalo
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1069
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
OP/ED COLUMN
FROM THE CAPITOL - THE WORST BILLS YOU'VE EVER SEEN
By Pat Garofalo
District 36B, State Representative
Every day on the House Floor lawmakers get a packet of bills that have been introduced that day. As I sit there and page through them, sometimes I stop and wonder if some of my legislative colleagues are "a few sandwiches short of a full picnic". You can always expect a few silly ideas - but this year I think we are setting a record.
By we, I mean "not Representative Garofalo", because I would never sign my name onto such utterly ridiculous legislation. Here are a few examples of bills that represent the silly side of the legislature.
THE CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF PICKLE RELISH
Imagine a sunny summer afternoon out on a boat. You're pouring ketchup and mustard onto a grilled hot dog. As you reach for the jar of pickle relish, the police storm your boat and send you to jail for 270 days. Why? Because your ketchup, mustard and pickle relish was all stored in glass containers and House File 522 would make possessing a glass container a misdemeanor if you are on your boat. Because you have three containers, at 90 days each, you’re looking at two-thirds of the year behind bars.
MAY I SEE YOUR POTTY PASS PLEASE?
In all seriousness, my heart goes out to anyone who suffers from a gastrointestinal disease. But House File 1015 requires businesses to make their bathroom available to certain people. The idea that we need the government to force a business to allow such a person to use their bathroom is just silly. Common sense says any decent person would allow the use of such facilities. After all, you can't legislate courtesy or common sense.
YOU NEED HOW MUCH MORE?
As I'm sure you know, we have an estimated $2 billion budget surplus. A few weeks ago, we found that the estimate dropped by $7 million, prompting some politicians to proclaim a crisis and announce billions in tax increases. In case you haven't heard, the state's general fund can spend $3 billion dollars more than last session, without raising general fund taxes. That is a 10.2% increase. Did your pay go up 10.2%?
BUCKLE UP…IN YOUR SHOPPING CART
House File 620 would require seat belts and/or restraining devices in all Minnesota shopping carts. I guess they anticipate such a rush for boat-safe plastic bottles that this bill is necessary. My question is: Why not include helmets and fireproof suits?
I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS
Lastly, this bill just might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. A bill was introduced just last week that would allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. Non-citizens. Voting. I don't even know what to say about this one. Wow.
Now take this list with a grain of salt. There are some of us, Republicans and Democrats, that are working on the issues that matter. Transportation, property taxes, health care, and keeping a lid on taxes come to mind. I'm hopeful that the reasonable members will be able to decide that agenda, not the folks submitting this legislation.
One final note...as we prepare for spring time, don't forget to get those deadly glass containers off your boat.
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News Items
- GAROFALO ANNOUNCES BILL TO RIGHT-SIZE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE - (Posted: Mar 7 2013 2:06PM)
- GAROFALO ISSUES STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR DAYTON’S BUDGET PROPOSAL - (Posted: Jan 23 2013 3:47PM)
- GAROFALO PREPARES FOR NEW TERM - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:00PM)
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