To "encourage" conservation - and discourage green lawns, clean clothes and regular baths - Rep. Paul Gardner introduced HF 3238, a statewide mandate on higher water rates by 2013.  The encouragement comes in the form of a "conservation rate structure."  It means "a rate structure that encourages conservation by increasing the rate the higher the level of use or during certain time periods and may include increasing block rates, seasonal rates, time of use rates, individualized goal rates, or excess use rates... To encourage conservation, a public water supplier serving more than 1,000 people in the metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, shall use a conservation rate structure by January 1, 2010. All remaining public water suppliers serving more than 1,000 people shall use a conservation rate structure by January 1, 2013."

The Caucus that brought you The DFL Land of Confusion now wants to pass a law to prohibit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from holding meetings.  HF 4021 states:  "The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall not establish a new stakeholder group or conduct meetings of stakeholder groups until after June 30, 2009. For the purposes of this section, a "stakeholder group" is a group of industry or other stakeholders convened by the Pollution Control Agency resulting in increased costs to the agency..."

It's more than a bit ironic the the DFL House Majority has built a legislative buraucracy of  more than 80 committees, subcommittees, working groups, task forces and commissions in the Minnesota House of Representatives. 

"The explosive growth of government shows what happens when Democrats take over," said House Republican Leader Marty Seifert. "The complicated and bloated process is confusing to the public, time consuming and expensive. There is very little to show for the excessive amount of meetings taking place. When all is said and done, there will be a lot more said than done."

Seifert said it is nearly impossible to determine how many groups are working on legislation and how much this process is costing Minnesota taxpayers.

Most voters know that election day - the day to vote for candidates and decide the fate of ballot initiatives and levy referendums - is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.  That's the law in Minnesota and throughout the country because consistent election dates have been proven to increase voter participation.  Makes sense, right?

Wait a minute, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer - there's an effort afoot to raise your taxes when nobody is looking!  A bill introduced by State Representatives Sandra Peterson, Will Morgan, Mindy Greiling and Debra Hilstrom would allow school districts to hold levy referendums "on a different day" if the district has a minimal fund balance.  How convenient.  Here's the bill:  (HF 3622)

Minneapolis DFLer Joe Mullery wants to jack up the taxes of individuals and businesses that dare to talk to their employees about the downside of unions.  If they don't give equal time to union organizers, their federal taxable income is increased by "the amount of expenditures related to opposing employee unionization efforts including, but not limited to: legal and consultant fees, mailings, food and beverages, meeting costs, printed materials, or any compensation paid to individuals to oppose unionization efforts."  See HF 2705.

Do you think AFSCME gives equal time at its meetings?  Hmmm....

They say when the legislature meets in session you'd  better hang on to your wallet.  Lyndon Carlson introduced HF 2554, a bill to force the Legislature into special session "upon the order of the presiding officers of both houses..."  Can you say "full-time legislature"?  The bill would have to be approved by voters at the 2008 General Election as an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution.  The beauty of the Carlson scheme is that the bill doesn't need to be signed by the Governor (who would certainly veto it) to go on the 2008 ballot. 

Minnesota has a reputation for questionable voting laws.  Any voter can vouch for the residency of anyone who wanders into a polling place.  No need for an ID or even a utility bill to prove who you are or where you live. 

Rep. Steve Simon (D-St. Louis Park) wants all 4,000-plus election precincts to provide pictures of how to vote, along with Election Day registration materials, absentee ballot information, and big posters in foreign languages to get more "citizens" to vote.  (House File 1827)

Say you are driving along, flipping through the AM radio stations and you accidently stop on AM 950, the liberal talk radio station. A sudden wave of nausea comes over you and you have to get to a bathroom ASAP. Thanks to St. Paul DFLer Erin Murphy, you may soon have a new "right" as defined in the Freedom to Poop Act.

You could face a $100 fine if your "retail establishment" has a non-public restroom for employees, and you do not allow anyone to use that restroom if they have floating back teeth, nausea, or the trots. Rep. Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) wants to fine firms and employees $100 if they do not let a customer use the firms' non-public restroom if the customer has any "medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility." This could apply to your residential bathroom if you are having a yard sale or running a daycare center, because the bill is so vague. (House File 1015)

Rep. Andy Welti (D-Plainview) wants to impose severe criminal penalties if you "carry, use, or possess" a glass container on a watercraft or along Minnesota's public waters. 

You could get 270 days in jail if you have a picnic on the lake and bring glass bottles of ketchup, mustard, and relish.  If you have a six-pack of Buddy's Cola from New Ulm on your pontoon boat, you would face 540 days behind bars, because each bottle would be a separate offense under the precise language of the bill. 

If you bring a jar of cold cream when you go sunbathing, you could do 90 days for that misdemeanor.  Rep. Welti later said he introduced the bill as an anti-littering proposal, but his bill outlaws mere "possession" of the deadly glass containers. (House File 522) Criminal possession of ketchup?