Parry speaks up (indirectly) in favor of Dick Day’s new day job

Minnesota’s newest state senator, who got his job after his predecessor resigned to become a lobbyist for racinos, testified this morning against a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on former legislators and elected officials becoming paid lobbyists.

“I am so concerned that our government is walking a very gray area here in telling its citizens what they can do, just because someone has a lot of knowledge,” Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, told the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight. “Is this where it’s going to stop, or are we going to start looking in other fields?

“Don’t get me wrong — I think there needs to be some kind of lobbying reform, but I’m concerned about restricting a person’s right to have a job.”

The bill, introduced by Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, would keep any legislator, constitutional officer, commissioner, deputy commissioner or state department or agency head from becoming a paid lobbyist for two years after resigning his or her position.

Marty proposed similar legislation during the 2009 session, but the proposal never made it to a Senate vote.

Parry’s predecessor, Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna, unexpectedly resigned from the Legislature in January to become a paid lobbyist for racinos — a plan that would allow slot machines at Minnesota’s racetracks. In a Jan. 26 special election, Parry handily defeated his DFL opponent, Jason Engbrecht, and was sworn in on Thursday.

Parry’s opposition to Marty’s bill was echoed by Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, who called the proposal “a bill in search of a problem.”

“The bottom line is that this is a free country,” Gerlach said. “This is America. Why we in the democratic process would exclude expertise and information in the process is beyond me.

“When we’re continually trying to reach out for answers and solutions, we’re now excluding participants in the process because we believe  they have some undue influence that’s nefarious or evil. And if someone does have that access, shame on us as legislators for allowing it.”

On a voice vote, the committee approved Marty’s bill.