Bunde Legislative Update – 90 Day Session Survey Response
March 2, 2007

Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my questions about 90-day legislative sessions.  More than 100 of you have written so far, and responses are still coming in.

It was helpful to be able to share some of your comments in the Senate State Affairs Committee meeting.  Our district was evenly divided in the vote for and against this measure, and it is clear from your responses that many of you have given this issue a lot of thought.

Whether you voted for or against the 90-day session, now that it is to be instituted, we must find a way to make it work.  Among those of you who responded to the survey, there was nearly unanimous agreement that the intent of the law was that the legislative session be completed in 90 days.  However, a clear majority of you felt that limiting the number of bills to be introduced would not be the appropriate way to accomplish that.

You were split very evenly on whether or not hearings on a bill should be limited, though there was a suggestion that time spent in a committee could be limited, thus moving the bills forward more quickly.

You also split evenly on whether or not legislative committee work should go forward in the interim.  Generally, the comments supported working on bills in committees, but not passing them into law.

There was strong opposition to the idea of reducing the notice of a hearing on a bill to 24 hours, though suggestions of 48 and 72 hours were offered instead.

Regarding special sessions, most of you agree that they should be reserved for single issues, if not emergencies, only.

Limiting the length of the legislative session will require a streamlining of the legislative process, amendments to current Uniform Rule statutes, and shifting of historical deadlines.    I appreciate all your suggestions for how we can accomplish that.  Thanks again for all your thoughtful comments.

Sincerely,

Con