ST. PAUL, MN—Rep. Mark Uglem, R-Champlin, has once again introduced a bill to stagger terms on the Met Council, one of a number of bipartisan proposal aimed at increasing accountability for the sprawling agency. Uglem introduced a similar proposal in 2013. Uglem's bill,
HF752, has nearly three-dozen co-sponsors including nearly a dozen DFL members.
"This bill would increase the institutional memory of the Met Council and add some much needed diversity of opinion to the board," Uglem said. "It's counterproductive and bad governance for the Council to be replaced every four or eight years by completely new members. The Met Council is in need of bipartisan voices, and shouldn't be a partisan arm of whatever party happens to hold the Governor's office. Having more voices on the Met Council will increase accountability, and make it a more thoughtful organization that truly represents the interests of the entire region, not just one political party. "
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