Time to talk about the elections

[question everything]

1. Any opinions about the Constitutional Amendment to Remove Lawmakers' Power to Set Their Own Pay?

So far, I've heard negative comments, even before I knew it was on the ballot.

2. Did you know there are nine presidential candidates on the ballot? In addition to the "usual suspects" there are also

Constitution Party, Legal Marijuana Now, Socialist Workers Party, American Delta Party and Independence.

Honestly, I think that with so many voters disgusted with the big two many could just pick one of the others. I can see former Sanders supporters, for example, voting for the Socialist Workers Party.

3. And then the judges. Besides Natalie Hudson vs. Michelle McDonald there are, at least on my ballot, for 4th District, Judge 37 Carolina Lamas, incumbent, vs. Luke Kyper Belleille, His home page only talks about the violence in the inner city, to ensure that violence is not tolerated.. Does not give any skills, like, dose he even have a law degree? What has he been doing with it? Then there is the seat for Judge 45: Paul Scoggin, incumbent, vs. Chris Ritts who, at least, is a lawyer..

Comments, please?

[Laf.La.Dem.]

1. Here in Louisiana - we have 13 "Presidential Electors"

One is - Princess Jacob. Milton Fabro Loyal Trustworthy Compassion

[Brickbat]

2. I'm voting to take the power away, because an independent office would likely give my

reps a raise. I live in NE MN; higher salaries help outstate reps.

[question everything]

3. Interesting. I would have thought that an outside panel would be reluctant to give

reps a raise, especially after this year, when they could not even agree on a budget and on a bonding bill.

[Brickbat]

4. The information I've been getting says that our reps tend to make less than the national average,

and that an independent salary-setter would be likely to raise salaries.

ETA: And I totally understand that other people might feel differently, that our reps make plenty as it is.

[dflprincess]

5. They seem to make a fair amount on the per deum but the base salary is awfully low

I honestly can't make up my mind on how to vote on it.

[question everything]

7. The local community newspaper, Sun Sailor, support a YES vote.

http://sailor.mnsun.com/2016/10/07/our-viewpoint-vote-yes-on-legislative-salary-amendment/

Afraid of being smeared as greedy by election opponents, legislators haven’t voted themselves a pay raise since a 5 percent bump in 1999. The salary of Minnesota’s senators and House members remains stuck at $31,140 a year.

It could be unstuck if voters approve a little-known constitutional amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot. It would create an independent citizen board to set legislators’ salaries and remove legislators’ constitutional power to set their own pay.

In the interest of making legislative service more economically viable and sustainable for a broad range of Minnesotans, we support a “yes” vote on the amendment. (Remember, leaving the ballot unmarked amounts to a “no” vote on constitutional amendments.)

(snip)

Minnesota’s legislative salary ranks 17th among the 39 states that pay their lawmakers. The council (whose authority to recommend legislative salaries was removed by lawmakers in 2014) recommended in 2013 that legislators raise their pay to one-third of the governor’s salary, which today would total $42,380.

[dflprincess]

6. No question that Natalie Hudson is the choice for the Supreme Court

McDonald is a nut case Republican who even they tried to run away from the first time she ran.

Personally, I think Belleille comments have a dog whistle sound to them which I find doubly suspect as he is running against a Latina. And, Lamas was appointed by Dayton so I'll take that as a plus.

Scoggin was also appointed by Dayton. I couldn't find much about Scoggin's judicial record though it is interesting that he was the prosecutor in a case where Ritts was the defense attorney.

http://www.twincities.com/2013/12/10/minneapolis-man-who-wrecked-lamborghini-gets-six-months-in-workhouse/

Though as criminal cases go, this is kind of minor and I doubt if anyone has an ax to grind over it. From what I read about Ritts, it sounds like he has a lot of personal injury and family law experience as well as some criminal law. I think I'll stick with Scoggin - apparently he hasn't done anything outrageous and he is qualified for the job.