Bill From Golden Valley Lawmaker Does Away With Daylight Saving Time

Bill From Golden Valley Lawmaker Does Away With Daylight Saving Time

On this first full day of moving our clocks forward for daylight saving time, some local residents had lost a bit of sleep.

“I am a little tired,” said Seretha Lee of Brooklyn Center. “But I do like the time change because I like the daylight.”

David Lynch of Minneapolis slept in to offset the loss of sleep.

“Sunday, I slept till 10:30,” he said. “So I made up for the extra hour I lost by sleeping an extra hour.”

Others, meanwhile, felt nothing at all.

“To sound cliche, I’m always tired, so I don’t even notice it anymore,” said Jesse Olejnicak of Minneapolis.

But one person who did notice the time change is DFL Rep. Mike Freiberg of Golden Valley.

“This is always the harder of the two time changes,” he said. “At least the one in November, you get an extra hour of sleep. But this is the one I always dread, and everybody at the Capitol is always extra grumpy.”

Now, those so-called grumpy lawmakers will have the power to do something about it.

Freiberg has introduced a bill that, if passed, would eliminate Daylight Saving Time and keep Minnesota on standard time year-round.

“Personally, I don’t really care which, whether we go to standard time permanently or daylight saving time permanently, I just want to get rid of the clock changes,” said Freiberg. “Right now, under federal law, we do have the ability to go to standard time permanently.”

Moving the clocks forward one hour brings more sunlight in the evening hours. However, sleep experts report upticks in heart problems, mood disorders and car crashes due to sleep loss.

Still, opinions on the proposed law were mixed.

“I consider it a one-day problem, not a whole year problem,” said Lynch.

Lee concurred.

“We don’t need that [new law],” said Lee. “I mean, I really believe that if it’s not broken, why try to fix it?”

Olejnicak was excited about the prospect.

“I’d love it because then you don’t have to wake up one morning and go ‘oh my goodness it’s still dark out.’ Especially in the winter when you want extra light,” he said.

Ultimately, the Minnesota Legislature will have the final say.

“There already is bipartisan support for it,” said Freiberg. “So I’m hopeful that we can actually get it done.”

Freiberg’s bill was referred to the State Government Finance Committee, but so far, he says it has not been scheduled for a hearing.

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SOURCE: CCX MEDIA