Yesterday, the
House passed constitutional amendment
HJR 19 by Dallas Republican Rep. Dan Branch
that would require all votes on third
reading to be public, so everybody could see which way each
legislator voted.
Many advocates of
record votes believe that the measure does not go far enough.
Most of the real debate on a bill happens during second
reading, when it is still possible to change the bill with
amendments.
For this reason
the leadership has resisted requiring record votes on second
reading.Branch’s answer to that argument is
that constituents “don’t really care about the parts and the
process.” (Thank you, daddy. You just tell us what to care
about.)
Some members who want a more open process tried to
attach an amendment to Branch’s bill yesterday that would have
added second reading. Our
sources on the floor tell us that Speaker
Tom Craddick told them that the amendment was not
“germane” to the bill.
by Jake Bernstein
April 19th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Reference above: real debate on a bill happens during second reading, when it is still possible to change the bill with amendments.. For this reason the leadership has resisted requiring record votes on second reading
If we do NOT FIX the PROCESS by “installing accountability meters” such as the EYE on the VOTES in the lead-up to passage or defeat of legislation.. we have a “one bill at a time effort” to do legislation “in the sunshine”. GIANT Steps not an inch at a time.. Let’s INVOKE the sunshine with 2nd reading vote records.. on ALL bills in BOTH chambers..
We can no longer afford “night vision scopes” in Texas government.