Reform of The State Legislature

By Margie Stuski

Restore Honor, Integrity and Values to the State House

Reforms I would like to see include:

Full disclosure of Leadership and ANY accounts funded by taxpayer money. The accounts should be subject to audit by the Auditor General.

I support the return of unspent Legislative Member expenses to go back to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year instead of going back into legislative reserve accounts.

Prohibition of using legislative staff, property and anything provided by taxpayer money to be used for political purposes. This includes an absolute ban of hiring private detectives or others for opposition research using taxpayer money. Tough criminal penalties for violation of this and requirement for restitution.

I support making some legislative jobs non-partisan so employees will not fear reporting abuses because they will lose their job.

I support making State Reps and State Senators contribute to their health insurance premiums similar to what is happening in private industry.

Public disclosure of Legislative caucus rules. I favor rotation of legislative leaders.

I support further study on reducing the size of the legislature.

I am willing to keep looking in all aspects of the Legislature and General Appropriations budgets on ways to reduce spending. My background working with troubled businesses has required me to be creative in dealing with little money. We need that to be the operating rule with the State budget.

Most of all, I support ongoing efforts to find more reforms in the Legislature.