Troubling New House of Delegates Procedure Rule

By: Mary
Published On: 1/3/2006 2:00:00 AM

An editorial in today's Daily Press highlights a disturbing change in the rules of procedures for the Virginia House of Delegates, which convenes its 2006 session next week:

The Republican majority in the Virginia House of Delegates - in the cause of efficiency, apparently - will now allow House subcommittees to hear and dispose of proposed legislation, so long as the chairman of the full committee approves.

Previously, disposition of legislation was a responsibility of full committees.  Republicans cite the devolution of this power for reasons of efficiency--with a compressed session timetable, committees are challenged to clear all legislation placed on their agenda.  However, as the Daily Press notes, this will set power even more off-center at the General Assembly:

The consequences of doing [this change in rules is] that: fewer delegates making bigger decisions on bills that may well include issues of broad statewide significance. Considerably more power will rest in the hands of the committee chairmen - all Republicans now - who will be free to manipulate the subcommittees according to their preferences.

This is not a sound arrangement and far from benign, regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats are in the majority. Efficiency is not the highest virtue of a legislative body. More important is that it be representative and thoughtful. Putting more power in fewer hands makes it less of both.

Update 1/4/06:  According to members of the House of Delegates, apparently this practice started last year.  It only became official now.  This, however, does not diminish the fact that it is an anti-democratic tactic that only helps special interests--and ultimately sells the electorate short.

Comments



Regardless of what w (Mary - 4/4/2006 11:30:55 PM)
Regardless of what was done long ago by Democrats, the problem is still there. This rule creates the opportunity for blackballing, permitting all Democratic legislation to get assigned to conflicting subcommittee meeting schedules.  With minority delegates forced to choose which meeting to attend, the result will likely lead to domination by right-wing special interest groups. Ultimately, this is a page from the same book of manipulation already seen in Delay & Co.'s redefinition of US Congress rules--and no less troubling for citizens of Virginia.


while this is distur (nova_middle_man - 4/4/2006 11:30:55 PM)
while this is disturbing it still doesn't come close to the antics the dems used when they had control of the house for so many years.  The minority party will always fight for "openess" because they are the minority party.