Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

What’s the Point?

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by

Dick Hall-Sizemore
in

By Dick Hall-Sizemore

Republicans in the General Assembly refused to go along at the beginning of the session with the customary practice of extending the “short session” from 30 days to 46 days.  They said that the Democrats had a long enough time during the very long special session to enact legislation.  Although they were in the minority, they had the upper hand because the state constitution requires approval of two-thirds of each house to extend a session.

So, what was the ultimate agreement?  The organizing resolution required each house to complete action on its bills by February 5 (last Friday), the budget committees to report their respective versions of the budget bill by February 7 (today), and the General Assembly to adjourn on February 11 (next Thursday).  That would have provided four days to accomplish what it usually takes about two weeks to get done.  Knowing this would be unrealistic, the organizing resolution provided for “legislative continuity”, which means that any bill can be carried over to a 2021 Special Session that the resolution explicitly assumes will be called.  Only one House Republican voted against this awkward approach, while nine Senate Republicans (half of them) objected.

Here is how matters stand now:

  • Governor Northam has called a special session to begin Feb.10.
  • The Senate Finance Committee on Friday carried over its budget bill to the special session and cancelled its meeting scheduled for this afternoon.
  • The House Appropriations Committee will meet this afternoon to carry over its budget bill.
  • The General Assembly will meet on Wednesday to adjourn the 2021 Regular Session and to immediately commence the 2021 Special Session.  (Somewhere in there, each committee will meet to officially carry over the bills that were reported from the opposite house.)

So, will someone please tell me what the point of all this was, other than for the Republicans to say we have to votes to foul up the process?  By the way, there is no time limit on the Special Session.

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Comments

8 responses to “What’s the Point?”

  1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
    Nancy_Naive

    It’s the fable of the scorpion and the frog, Dick.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_and_the_Frog

    Although, the turtle is a better fit.
    Truly have the sages said that to cherish a base character is to give one’s honor to the wind, and to involve one’s own self in embarrassment.[10]

  2. Nancy_Naive Avatar
    Nancy_Naive

    It’s the fable of the scorpion and the frog, Dick.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_and_the_Frog

    Although, the turtle is a better fit.
    Truly have the sages said that to cherish a base character is to give one’s honor to the wind, and to involve one’s own self in embarrassment.[10]

  3. Steve Haner Avatar
    Steve Haner

    The line that comes to mind is, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. The upside is the bill limitation limits held and the amount of bills greatly reduced. If they can’t start again with new bills, the special session will be quiet. If we start again on new bills, it may never end.

    Being in special session means fundraising starts again…

  4. Steve Haner Avatar
    Steve Haner

    The line that comes to mind is, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. The upside is the bill limitation limits held and the amount of bills greatly reduced. If they can’t start again with new bills, the special session will be quiet. If we start again on new bills, it may never end.

    Being in special session means fundraising starts again…

  5. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    I suspect the GOP was opposed to even more damage done.

    😉

    1. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      This morning (Monday) the various House committees are meeting briefly to carry forward the Senate bills into the special session. Senate had a pro forma floor session and full House is not even meeting. This will be largely a lost week, when they probably could have cleared quite a bit off the decks.

      Full per diem for that three or four minute virtual meeting, of course….

  6. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    I suspect the GOP was opposed to even more damage done.

    😉

    1. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      This morning (Monday) the various House committees are meeting briefly to carry forward the Senate bills into the special session. Senate had a pro forma floor session and full House is not even meeting. This will be largely a lost week, when they probably could have cleared quite a bit off the decks.

      Full per diem for that three or four minute virtual meeting, of course….

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