Minnesotans for a Single-House Legislature.

Minnesotans for a Single-House Legislature (MSHL) was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1999, apparently as a successor to the Citizens Committee for a Single-House Legislature, by former Republican state senator George Pillsbury and former Democratic state senator Gene (Eugene) Merriam. Pillsbury and Merriam served as co-chairs of the organization. Minnetonka business executive Charles Slocum served as general manager, and St. Paul businessman Stan Donnelly III as finance chair. MSHL maintained that the establishment of a unicameral legislature in Minnesota would increase the openness, accountability, responsiveness, and effectiveness of state lawmakers. To that end it hoped to convince the public to pressure the legislature to place a proposed constitutional amendment accomplishing this before the voters. The unicameral initiative enjoyed the active support and involvement of many key Republican and DFL leaders, several former governors, and then-governor Jesse Ventura. An independent lobbying group called Citizens Committee for Legislative Reform was also established, with James C. Erickson as its director of government relations.

MSHL maintained an office in suburban Fridley, Minnesota, organizing citizen forums, petition drives, and similar "educational" activities. Volunteer teams/local chapters were established in Rochester, Mankato-Fairmont, Willmar, St. Cloud-Brainerd, Alexandria, Moorhead, and Duluth. Ventura made several tours around the state speaking in favor of unicameralism.

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2016-08-13 04:08:59 pm

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