IN A speech during the Rotary Club of Guam luncheon meeting at the Marriott Resort yesterday, former Sen. Bob Klitzkie encouraged businesses to engage in politics and advocate a part-time Legislature. Klitzkie also suggested reducing senators’ salaries in the process.
“I maintain that too much time in unlimited session just prompts people to get involved in things that are really not important but perhaps would appeal to certain parts of the public interest,” Klitzkie said.
Currently, Guam senators have a budget of $290,000 to use for office space, employees, travel, etc; and paid leave, which if not used during their term is awarded to them at the end of the term. These amounts were determined by the senators themselves and senators are not held accountable, Klitzkie stated.
Klitzkie was adamant that a part-time Legislature – in session for just 60 days out of the year – could be just as effective as the current Legislature that does not have a limit as to the length of time they are in session.
In 1970, he said, lawmakers could meet for 60 days for every year. “The quality of legislation they produced then is every bit as good a quality as we produce now,” Klitzkie stated.
By initiating this change in the Legislature, further positive change can be made in the rest of the government.
“I think that if we’ve gotten to that point, we can back away from this tipping point where we can’t seem to get to where we want to go from here,” the former senator said.
Comments
judy senator is quacking, clucking and raging after reading Bob's prose.
She will erect a huge toll booth in front of his residence, The toll booth will be 3 stories high, solar panels and wind turbines for eventing power.
It will be a green toll booth made from recyclable plastic bottles and floors of bamboo and coconut husks. compost toilet ( sorry no bidet ) ...
..Bob better be careful going home.
hast[censored]
If the general public wanted a part time legislature, just cut the senators pay to $5000 a year flat and $25 a day for special sessions. This could be done through an initiative.
RSS feed for comments to this post