Arkansas House Republicans Set To Propose Reform Measures To House Rules (UPDATE – Amends Rejected)
UPDATE - These amendments to the rules were voted down primarily by the Democrat majority in the House. More information included video of Speaker Wills speaking against the amendments coming soon.
A coalition of Arkansas House Republicans are preparing to bring a set of six rules to the floor of the Arkansas House of Representative tomorrow as the House meets in a full caucus session to adopt the rules that will govern the upcoming fiscal year session. Although this caucus session often takes place with little attention, the rules adopted by the House play an important role in shaping how the session process will take place.
Representatives Dan Greenberg, Ann Clemmer, and Andrea Lea will propose a set of six rules tomorrow that will set to make the process more transparent. The first proposal will require press releases from the house communications office to have a legislator or group of legislators represented listed on the release and will also require the communications office services to be available to all members.
The second rule will require a role call vote in house committee upon the request of any house member. Currently, committee chairman can often avoid a roll call on controversial bills to allow members to vote for or against a measure without having to officially record a vote that might cause them an issue with their constituency.
The third proposal would prohibit debate from ending in committee until someone was permitted to speak against the bill. Under current rules, a vote can be called for before members opposing a bill have time to speak.
The fourth proposal would require members to travel in the most economic fashion. Rep. Clemmer proposed a similar bill which was rejected but the House Rules Committee with a voice vote that went into some degree of detail regarding traveling by air or by car. This bill does not go into as much detail but sets a general common sense policy for members to travel in the manner that saves the tax payers as much money as possible.
The fifth proposal would prohibit the house rules committee from overturning rules changes passed by the house floor. Currently, rules changes require a two-thirds vote on the house floor but can be overruled by the House Rules Committee which is selected by the House Speaker.
The final measure is a proposal from Rep. Lea which she plans to first run through the House Rules Committee would require a 48 hour waiting period after a bill is passed out of committee before it is brought before the house for a vote. This would allow members time to study the bill before having to vote on the measure.
These rules changes have to do with making sure that every idea and every legislator and every piece of legislation is treated fairly in the Arkansas House,” Greenberg tells the Tolbert Report. “These rules changes are designed to protect the procedural values that the people are entitled to: transparency and accountability.”
During the previous session, House Speaker Robbie Wills often would point to the rules adopted by the House as the justification for action taken. The proposed rules clearly are intended to allow the minority party the chance for a fair debate during the upcoming session. It will be interesting to see how the proposed changes are received by the majority party tomorrow.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Who are the committee members? It would be good if you could list them for us. I think the public should be encouring the members to adopt these common-sense rules.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
The first proposal will require the communications office services to be available to all members.
What members are being turned down thru this communication office?
The second rule will require a role call vote in house committee upon the request of any house member.Currently, committee chairman can often avoid a roll call .
This is not true ,the chair has to call the roll if two members request it. The new rule above states that any member be allowed to call for a roll call. This is not a good idea , first they should be on that committee first to be able to do this.
I have no problem with 3& 4& 5
The six rule change won’t pass. The ones that don’t read Bills ,
still won’t with 24 extra hours.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:22 pm
House Rules Committee
Chairman Representative Robert Moore
Vice Chair Representative Keith Ingram
Representative Rick Saunders
Representative Rick Green
Representative Gregg Reep
Representative Otis Davis
Representative Steve Harrelson
Representative Fred Allen
Representative Johnny Hoyt
Representative Tommy Lee Baker
Representative Kathy Webb
Representative Bobby Pierce
Representative Barry Hyde
Representative Linda Tyler
Representative Darrin Williams
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thanks. Let’s start flexing a little conservative muscle.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:54 am
just askin – I am not a Representative just a blogger but here is my take.
On the first rule, I think the main point is to have the representative(s) name on it rather than presume to speak for the house as a whole. The access to all members is to ensure that what is being done and promised now continues even under different speakers and leaders.
On the second rule, yes, a role call can be called for by a motion and a second. I have seen members quickly leave the room after voting to circumvent this process and then chairman disregard the motion and second. We were told this process is part of the rules therefore I strongly feel this rule is needed to correct this problem.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Jason – do you know how all the Republicans voted? Did they stick together?
November 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
My guess is Rick Green voted, as Master Wills demanded.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Oh, my bad Elizabeth, I bet you meant “Real Republican” when you asked that question. In that case we can’t include Mr. Green.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Well my thought process went like this: “I wonder if those guys who always defect voted w/ the party they’re supposed to align with? I’ll bet not. I’ll ask Jason.” And I did, and you’re right. Rick Green was one of a few I figured probably didn’t vote with Ann, Dan, Andrea, John, etc.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Since you asked, Rick Green maintained his Ray Smith Award from Robbie Wills. The only amendment Green voted in favor of was the one from Wills. He did ask several questions with a hey-why-are-you-fellows-making-trouble tone to it.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Judging from the roll call- the most consistent member was Clark Hall who voted against ALL, including Wills’