March 14, 2013
Are Bills Held for Further Study for the Committee's Benefit or for the Speaker's Benefit?
Paul Spetrini of GoLocalProv posted a story last night on the decision by the House Judiciary Chair to void the previous night's vote that would have sent an Ethics amendment to the full House that contains this item of note...
[Spokesman Larry Berman] added that Fox wants “more time” to review the bill.Note that the references are to the Speaker -- that's one person, not an entire committee -- needing more time to review the bill.“Arguments were made in favor of it, as well as those against it,” Berman said. “He looks forward to considering the merits of the legislation in the coming weeks.”
It certainly seems like permission from leadership is a requirement for this bill to be acted on in committee.
UPDATE:
In the comments section, John Marion of Common Cause Rhode Island notes that Speaker Fox wants more time to review a Constitutional amendment that is, word-for-word, the same as he voted for in 2010.
The facade that this has anything to do with substance, and is not a naked power play, is becoming nearly impossible to maintain.
It's also important to note that H 5498 is identical to H 7357 in 2010 that Fox was the primary sponsor of, and voted for. Not a single word or number has changed.
Posted by: John Marion at March 14, 2013 11:23 AMFirst, the citizens need to know that the leadership knows what's best for them. Second, the members of the various committees need to trust that the leadership is doing what is best for us all and is structuring the "deal" with the Senate leadership so the end game will produce the desired outcome of successes and failures while giving the "people" the impression that everything was done transparently. Third, resistence is futile.
Now let's all go to the vomitorium and relieve ourselves, the leadership will tell us when we need to know something.
Posted by: John at March 14, 2013 11:41 AMWanted: GA Members with a spine who are willing to stand up to leadership and act in the best interest of the citizens. Any takers? Didn't think so. RI GA members have now replaced lawyers and used car salemen as the lowest of the low. I called my Rep today to complain about this lowlife, Fox. His reply...It is what it is.
Posted by: JTR at March 14, 2013 1:07 PM