Last week I wrote about the shameful lack of debate on bills in the state legislature. With 3,000 bills introduced every year, lawmakers don’t have time to consider truly important issues (like a balanced budget) because they’re preoccupied with ridiculous issues like banning novelty lighters. Average citizens who come to the capitol to participate in their government are allotted seconds to express their input on laws that will impact their lives. Well, yesterday Democrats in the Senate Judiciary Committee got a taste of their own medicine when Chairman Ellen Corbett wouldn’t allow debate on a bill authored by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza. Check out the exchange between Corbett, Senator Dean Florez and Mendoza:
Perhaps Mendoza now understands what it’s like for citizens who feel they are “treated like toys” when they attempt to participate in their government.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Meredith is correct. When the Legislature becomes a bill factory all deliberation is lost. When I was there we used to pass out M&M and cookies to Senator Peace and others when their blood sugar turned grumpy. It still was a factory but a happier one.