One of the most conservative legislators at the Capitol says his colleagues in both parties are encouraging partisanship at the expense of individual lawmaker beliefs.

Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, penned a letter to constituents on Friday that rails against the legislative caucus system, where lawmakers meet as a party to decide their stance before major votes.

Buesgens, who has voted against several GOP budget bills, said it "uses the powerful tool of peer pressure over intellectual debate to force its will on members."

The letter is a rare jab at what is considered standard operating procedure at both the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. He said it encourages lawmakers to stick together, rather than follow their principles.

"It might be heresy for me to say this, but the GOP does not have an absolute monopoly on every good idea, nor does the DFL have an absolute monopoly on all the bad ideas," Buesgens wrote, noting that he disagrees with GOP-supported cigarette taxes, national ID cards and education funding shifts.

He said that lawmakers are more focused on polls than being statesmen. "Maintenance of power is the overriding concern."

The seven-term representative took it a step further on KTLK this morning. He related the caucus process to the Borg from Star Trek, "assimilating everyone into its mindset."

He added that floor debates are largely a facade.

"I hate to burst anyone's bubble if they watch the floor sessions on television, but honestly ... it is no more than professional wrestling with words," Buesgens said.