One of the voices crying out in the wilderness of the Minnesota House for reform and transparent process has been South St. Paul DFLer Rick Hansen, especially when important and hefty bills show up late for members to read and debate before a post-midnight vote.
With the creation of the Subcommittee on Legislative Process Reform, chaired by Winona Democrat Gene Pelowski, it's possible that Hansen lamentations might be softened should one reform--proposed in a 2008 report--be adopted. On page 15 of the Committee Report on Legislative Process Reform we find this nugget:
#16 It should not be possible to waive the rule that forbids the House from meeting after midnight.
It's not a minor consideration for those who wish to follow bills and the legislative process, and we've seen Hansen shine a light on the dark of night moments on social media. Here are some examples from twitter:
In the dark of night (midnight) Rep Hornstein & Rep Ecklund lift the hefty 672 page Human Services bill SF 2. Heavy! Effect? #mnleg pic.twitter.com/EP2VEwbE9S
— Rep. Rick Hansen (@reprickhansen) May 26, 2017
Our Legislature could have worked in public for Mn; Not in dark of night 🔦🔦🔦. It doesn't have 2 be this way. Not an accident; a strategy
— Rep. Rick Hansen (@reprickhansen) May 31, 2017
Time is running out at the Republican controlled Mn Legislature...989 page Omnibus Spending bill (SF 3656) We are here in the dark of night...again #mnleg pic.twitter.com/BYafCxfMaS
— Rep. Rick Hansen (@reprickhansen) May 20, 2018
Our sources tell us that Hansen and Pelowski are known to be at odds within the DFL legislative delegation, but some of the reforms might be a source of unity for them.
And Pelowski's not waiting to get the ball rolling on setting the subcommittee--part of the Rules and Legislative Administration committee, chaired by Majority leader Ryan Winkler, DFL-St. Louis Park. From a media advisory issued by Pelowski's office, Rep. Pelowski to Chair Two Informational Committee Meetings on Legislative Reform:
In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, Rep. Gene Pelowski will chair two meetings on reforming the legislative process. These meetings will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss improvements to the Legislature and how to ensure a more fair, open and efficient process.
What: First meeting on Legislative Reform
When: Tuesday, November 27th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Room 200, State Office Building
Agenda: Presentation by National Conference of State Legislatures on legislative reform initiatives
What: Second meeting on Legislative Reform
When: Wednesday, November 28th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Room 200 State Office Building
Agenda: Public and stakeholder testimony
All members of the Minnesota House-including newly elected representatives, stakeholders, and the public have been invited to attend. These legislative reform meetings will build on Rep. Pelowski’s previous work when he chaired the Government Operations and Reform Committee in 2007-2008. That committee issued a bipartisan report on ways to improve the legislative process.
Here's the 2008 report; as we said, some of the changes were adopted (like making amendments to bills available online in advance of committee hearings and floor sessions) have been adopted, while others--like prohibiting the waiver of the House's adjourn-by-midnight rule--have not.
Committee Report on Legislative Process Reform August 2008 posted by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
This post is the third in a series about changes in the Minnesota House as it flips from Republican to Democratic control. Here are the earlier entries:
Photo: Gene Pelowski. Photo by Glen Stubbe at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, via The City Pages.
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