MPR's Fantasy Legislature

MPR's Bob Collins is heading up a fascinating Web-based project for politicos in Minnesota. Fantasy Legislature is based on the principles that drive fantasy sports games.

The manager (that's you) drafts a team of six legislators. That's where fantasy ends and reality begins. Points are awarded to each legislator in several categories based on actual happenings at the Minnesota Legislature. At the end of the season (session), the team with the most points wins. You can find complete scoring rules here.

Q: Doesn't this make a mockery of the legislative process?
A: On the contrary, it illuminates the legislative process and the tremendous workload that lawmakers have. Look at it this way: during the course of a legislative session, relatively few lawmakers get any coverage. And comparatively few bills warrant mainstream coverage. With Fantasy Legislature, you'll learn more about both. It might even help people understand the seemingly Byzantine process of legislating. We think that's a good thing. And if you have some fun in the process, all the better!

This is similar to Fantasy Congress, which I profiled on Future Tense a few months back.