"Riley Factor"

This article was featured in the February 2007 issue of Business Matters, the Chamber's monthly print newsletter.

Rule Reforms to Make Lawmaking More Open to the Public

For those that think the pay raise issue is over, think again.  Some of the strongest outcries from the public regarding the now repealed pay raise were the stealth manner in which it was done, and, the hour in which it was done.

Both of these issues will be addressed by reform measures adopted in the Senate for this upcoming session and will likely be adopted in the House as well.

In the Senate

Quickly after swearing in members and electing Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) as President Pro Tempore, the Senate adopted seven bipartisan supported reform proposals aimed at making the Senate process more open to the public.

Under the new rules:

• Session times will be limited to between 8 a.m.  and 11 p.m.

• Amendments will be posted to the Internet before being offered on the Senate floor.

• The Senate will wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or a conference committee report.

• All roll call votes will be posted on the Internet as soon as possible after a vote, but always within 24 hours of a vote.

• Committee votes on bills will be posted on the Internet within 48 hours of the vote.

• The Senate's Legislative Journal -- which includes the full text of all floor debates -- will be posted on the Internet upon Senate approval of the Journal or within 45 days, whichever is earlier.

• An updated fiscal note will be prepared if a bill is amended after consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee, if the amendment has a fiscal impact.

In the House

The House is also expected to adopt a temporary set of rules governing how the body operates, pending development and adoption of permanent new rules which are being developed with citizen input.

The new house rules proposals will likely include: 

Limiting the Hours of Session Operation.  A rule may mandate session be limited to be between 8am and 10pm. 

Amendments to only be added at Second Consideration.  In order to allow further public debate and discussion, a proposed change to the system may mandate all amendments to a bill be added by its second reading to the Chamber, which in effect will lead to a 24-hour waiting period before final vote.

A Conference Committee Report waiting period.  To ensure full and better understanding of what is contained in final conference committee reports, a waiting period of 24 hours before a vote to adopt or reject conference committee reports may be mandated.

The business community applauds the rule changes as we expect the changes will result in legislation that is better crafted, and, better understood by the public.