Initiative repeals 1,175 obsolete laws and implements several reforms aimed at cutting bureaucratic red tape.
Lawmakers in Minnesota have repealed a number of obsolete and unnecessary laws as part of an “unsession” initiative. In addition, they also implemented several reforms aimed at cutting bureaucratic red tape, simplifying filing of tax returns and speeding the business permitting process, among other reforms.
From the Pioneer Press, Minnesota ‘unsession’ dumps 1,175 obsolete, silly laws:
It’s no longer a crime in Minnesota to carry fruit in an illegally sized container. The state’s telegraph regulations are gone. And it’s now legal to drive a car in neutral — if you can figure out how to do it.
Those were among the 1,175 obsolete, unnecessary and incomprehensible laws that Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature repealed this year as part of the governor’s “unsession” initiative. His goal was to make state government work better, faster and smarter.
“I think we’re off to a very good start,” Dayton said Tuesday at a Capitol news conference.
In addition to getting rid of outdated laws, the project made taxes simpler, cut bureaucratic red tape, speeded up business permits and required state agencies to communicate in plain language.
“We got rid of all the silly laws,” said Tony Sertich, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board commissioner who headed Dayton’s effort.
Legislators also did away with a number of unnecessary advisory boards and other government panels, the Pioneer Press reported. Some unsession ideas were submitted by state employees and Minnesota citizens.
Legislators launched an initiative that got rid of more than 30 advisory boards, councils and task forces that had outlived their usefulness.
Dayton thanked the “hundreds of state employees and thousands of Minnesota citizens” who submitted unsession ideas.
Democrat or Republican, no matter to me – I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this in other states.
Thank you for this, Eglman. We currently have a candidate running in my area who has promised to repeal 2 laws for every new one enacted. Since she's my friend, she's running against a local RINO, and I am helping her with her campaign, I have forwarded this article to her as a possible resource. I shall let you know if I get any feedback.
We were asked for ID to get into a national park but it is racist to ask for voter ID?~~Comment on FB
ZitatAnd it’s now legal to drive a car in neutral — if you can figure out how to do it.
It's called a hill Jackson.
BTW, I once drove an old jalopy (a '34 Plymouth) that had a free wheel instead of a clutch. I can see why they originally passed this law because free wheeling down a hill is a close to death I ever got next to the time I had 6 Puerto Ricans bear down on me with a knife.
Chevrolet....Building A Better Way To See The U.S.A. (or St Peter depending on which deathtrap you bought).
ZitatAnd it’s now legal to drive a car in neutral — if you can figure out how to do it.
It's called a hill Jackson.
BTW, I once drove an old jalopy (a '34 Plymouth) that had a free wheel instead of a clutch. I can see why they originally passed this law because free wheeling down a hill is a close to death I ever got next to the time I had 6 Puerto Ricans bear down on me with a knife.
A bit off topic, but reminds me of some of my early driving experiences: starting a car with a dead battery by getting it to roll and popping the clutch, starting off in second in a car that had lost first gear, standard shift that required double clutching