Senate GOP: Last-Minute Bills Have No Place On Floor DOVER – Senate Republicans are reaching across the aisle for help in doing away with the practice of suspending rules on the Senate floor to vote on legislation that has not followed the normal Senate committee hearing process. Typically, a bill must clear a Senate committee before getting to the floor for a vote. But during the last week of the legislative session, when the number of bills on the agenda increases significantly, it’s common for a bill’s sponsor to make a motion to suspend rules to have it considered without a public hearing. All eight Senate Republicans signed a letter hand-delivered to the Senate’s top Democrat, Senate President Pro Tem Patricia Blevins (D-Elsmere), requesting the parties work together to end the practice. The letter was delivered to Sen. Blevins before the start of Tuesday’s session. As of Thursday morning, there was no response. Senate Republican Leader Gary… Simpson (Milford) said every piece of legislation deserves due process. “It’s our responsibility as lawmakers to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to be properly educated and informed of all the issues,” he said. “And the only way to do that is to make sure that bills are heard in the public arena, rather than coming before the legislature at the last minute without any prior input.” In the letter, the Republicans informed their colleagues that they would object to all suspension of rules for bills that have not had a legitimate Senate committee hearing. They added that changing this long-held practice won’t be easy, and that it “may result in some bumps, bruises and hurt feelings while making the transition,” but that the end result “will be a better process with far less mischief in the waning days of the session.” “Bills introduced and rushed at this time of year often don’t get out to the various constituencies that are impacted by them,” said Senate Republican Whip Greg Lavelle (Sharpley). “June 30th comes the same day every year and should be a surprise to no one. The practice of delaying the introduction of bills until the last few days of the session to avoid legislative and public scrutiny has to stop.” As an alternative to completely eliminating the practice, the Republicans suggest exploring what many other states have already been doing, including: requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote to suspend rules, rather than the simple majority currently required in the Delaware Senate; or mandating that a bill be introduced no fewer than six legislative days before the end of session to be acted on during that session. Sens. Colin Bonini (R-Dover South), Cathy Cloutier (R-Heatherbrooke), Dave Lawson (R-Marydel), Gerald Hocker (R-Ocean View), Ernie Lopez (R-Lewes), and Brian Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown) also signed the letter.
(This was posted on Facebook by Sen. Brian Pettyjohn)
Perhaps this action could have been proposed as a bill months ago? It makes sense but if you think the Democrats will suddenly get morals and principles I think you need to reassess things a bit.
Mr. Protack, having a negative attitude about a positive move does nothing to encourage future positive moves. No one expects the Democrats to suddenly change their stripes. The point here is that our Senate Republicans showed unity on an issue that is important, and it demonstrates that one party rule is not good for anyone.
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