These are ready for a floor vote as soon as the DFL has the votes.

The power to call a special session could be in the hands of others than just the governor.

Awaiting action by the House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee is HF2554, sponsored by Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL-Crystal). It was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on a divided voice vote.

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment be put before state voters at this year’s general election. It would allow the Legislature to be called into session by the leadership in both bodies or by a petition among the majority of members in each body. Now, only the governor can call a special session.

A session would be limited to seven days; however, there is no provision indicating the session could not be extended another seven days through a leadership agreement or another petition, thus creating a full-time Legislature seven days at a time.

A companion bill, SF3072, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), awaits action by the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.

This strikes me as a bad thing... the more time they have in session, the more time they have to scew things up.

Trust your instincts. I think you nailed it.

I think it's probably a device to defend against a veto at the end of a session. Right now if a bill passes on the last day, and the gov vetoes it a after the end of the session, the veto stands. Only the gov can call them back before next year.

But with the power to call their own session, they could come back and overide.

They could also turn the legislature into a full time job, Maybe, with no deadline, they'd get even LESS done.

Dick Unger wrote:



This may be a good thing.

I agree fully with your statement that if they can call a special session, they will make the legislature a full time one.

We need an amendment to max out their per diems before the special sessions. Any extra time is on their own bloody nickel. That'd keep it to a minimum.

I wish I agreed; I think it's the power, not the money.

Or, of course, they could get their bills finished on time, instead of putting things off to the last minute.

Isn't it Texas that has a legislative session limited to 45 days every other year?

If I were King, the legislature would meet outdoors, on folding chairs, on Pike Island, in August.

And, of course, I'd require that the first and second readings be complete readings of the text, and that a quorum be present for both.

THAT is a great idea. I got the impression that some people on the committee hadn't really read HF 498 the other day for example. Even more important, I got the impression that some people testifying and others there for support hadn't either.

Nah. January.

With no coats!

You're a Hard man Srigs!!

Let em have coats....and gloves, but no other toys to keep em warm.

That's the ticket. No interns!