We are always expecting more for less. Let's reverse this with our state legislators. - We need shorter sessions.

In a 1-10-04 post entitled in part "We underpay our legislators. - But would the public howl about a bipartisan raise? It shouldn't, " I noted:

-- that "it's a tough juggling act between running one's business and serving as a part-time legislator;"

-- that while "Georgia's lawmakers . . .hobnob with corporate big shots and dine with lobbyists in alligator shoes" and "battle a perception they're rolling in money," "the Legislature is a cross-section of Georgia from an economic and social standpoint," and therefore, "you've . . . got a lot of middle class people and some who just barely get by;"

-- that "to the best of my knowledge, Georgia's legislators have not had a raise, at least a meaningful raise, for decades;"

-- that our legislators -- not counting the days the spent in Atlanta on committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session -- have go "to Atlanta for 40 days and 40 nights once a year" for "$16,524 annually and $128 per diem for their public service" (and of course this is 49 work days which does not count weekends or days when the Legislature is in recess); and

-- that "we underpay our legislators," "are probably getting a heck of a lot more than we are paying for," and that an "adjustment is not only deserved and in order but way, way overdue."
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In this post I also reviewed how few attorneys are in the legislature now compared with days gone by because of the stress and strain of keeping their law practices going while the General Assembly is in session.

And speaking of attorneys and per diem, I noted how Ethics Commissioner Emmett Bowers has said he was troubled that metro Atlanta legislators receive the same per diem as those other lawmakers from outside metro Atlanta and "get to put it in their pocket."

This comment was made in the context of the fine levied against former House Majority Leader Jimmy Skipper (D-Americus). Skipper, who retired last year, spent campaign donations for an apartment in Atlanta in 2001 and 2002.

Is this why Jimmy Skipper retired? No, his retirement was related to the reality that Georgia's General Assembly -- although supposedly a part-time undertaking -- often turns into a year-round job.

This is especially the case for those in positions of leadership such as Jimmy Skipper, where such legislators find that with numerous committee meetings and campaigning during the "off season," their elected offices end up being year-round jobs, with the result that their full-time careers, families and civic duties back home are negatively affected.

But even for those who are not in demanding positions of leadership, as noted in the above post, sometimes the financial strain and time commitment become too much, and a legislator is forced to choose between taking care of the legislator's business or minding to the public's business as a legislator.
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In 2002, the legislature, which was embroiled over discussions about redistricting, didn't adjourn until April 12, breaking a record held since 1885 for the longest session.

The next year topped that when the it did not leave town until April 25. The hot issue that year, you recall, was the flag.

And last year, legislators were able to get out of the regular session by early April, but came back to the Capitol for a special session in May called by the governor to discuss the budget and funding for indigent defense.

(See 2-5-05 article in The Savannah Morning News article by Vicky Eckenrode.)
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There is no question that our legislators deserve a raise.

But no time is a good time for legislators to vote themselves a pay raise. For sure, even if both parties get together and decide it is time to bite the bullet on this, it is unlikely to happen before the 2006 elections. (And by Georgia's Constitution, any change cannot become effective until the end of the legislative term during which the change is made.)

Thus while any pay raise politically would not be the thing to introduce at the present, how about cutting back the amount of time a legislator is expected to serve.

Georgia's Constitution provides that a regular session begins on the second Monday in January of each year, and may continue "for a period of no longer than 40 days in the aggregate each year."

Soon after Republicans assumed control of the Capitol this year, their party leaders pledged to get the state's business done quickly. House Speaker Glenn Richardson said he would push hard to keep the session from dragging on.

And while some Democratic legislators expressed concerns that a quicker-than-usual session could lead to a rubber-stamping attitude among the ruling party, this would seem to be of less concern if all sides knew the amount of time that the Legislature would be in session from the beginning, and it was a certain number of days, a certain number less than 40.

Last year it took the Senate a couple of weeks to get organized since it had just taken control, and the same thing happened this year with the House.

But as of today, February 14, we will be on the 18th legislative day out of 40, and look at all that has happened, and it took a couple of weeks for the House to organize itself.

We all recall the normal lull that goes on between the 2nd Monday in January when the Legislature convenes until the ending days when we dread the new stuff that pops out of nowhere. The Republicans say they are going to stop such last minute legislation that catches all of us by surprise, and this is probably wise.

Since 40 is the maximum time, I suggest that both houses of the Legislature by resolution vote to have 25 or 30-day general sessions until further action of both houses.

This should help lessen the impact of these part-time jobs being like year-round jobs, and in the process encourage more good people to come forward as candidates with less concern of their full-time careers, families and civic duties back home being negatively affected.

It is something to think about, and to discuss with your legislators.