Kathy Lynch is Republican State Commiteewoman in the Worcester & Middlesex District
Leominster, Westford, Fitchburg, Groton, Lunenburg, Townsend, Clinton, Lancaster, Shirley, Ashby
Leominster, Westford, Fitchburg, Groton, Lunenburg, Townsend, Clinton, Lancaster, Shirley, Ashby
Petition to End "Informal Sessions"
SUMMARY
The Massachusetts legislature is taking unconstitutional shortcuts – passing a large number of its bills into law or moving them forward through what they call “informal sessions.” Alarmingly, these sessions are held with as few as 2 or 3 legislators present. The proper quorum for conducting business required by the Massachusetts Constitution is a majority of legislators, which is equal to 81 state representatives or 21 senators. This resolution calls on the Massachusetts Legislature to hold all legislative sessions with the constitutionally required quorum. Please read the resolution and show your support by signing and adding your comment.
PETITION
Whereas, the Massachusetts Legislature is a full-time, salaried body, with travel stipends, and legislators are expected to report to work;
Whereas, the Massachusetts Constitution specifically says that a “majority of the members of each branch of the general court shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business;”
Whereas, informal sessions have too few (oftentimes only two to three) representatives or senators meeting, typically two or three times every week, to pass dozens of bills before an empty chamber under the false pretense that there is the required quorum; [See posted House and Senate informal sessions on the State House website.]
Whereas, a majority of all bills in Massachusetts get passed through this corrupt practice;
Whereas, all bills deserve the same attention to proper legislative process as required by the Massachusetts Constitution.
Therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we the people of Massachusetts condemn informal sessions that do not have a quorum as required in the Massachusetts Constitution;
Resolved, that we the people of Massachusetts urge all members of the Massachusetts Legislature to hold every legislative session with the proper quorum so that they properly conduct business for the benefit of its citizens, as they were elected to do;
Resolved, that any time legislators conduct an informal session without a quorum, we the people of Massachusetts call for a representative or senator to show up at the session to announce, “I doubt the presence of a quorum” which will immediately terminate the session so that this corrupt practice ends.
BACKGROUND
It's really important to see what's going on with informal sessions for yourself. Watch the following June 3rd informal session. Watch the speaker ask, "All those in favor say 'Aye'; all those opposed say 'Nay'; the Ayes have it" to a chamber full of ice hockey players – not legislators! Watch how some bills go from first to third reading in mere minutes.
In the above linked informal session video, you will see that the House Bill H2359 anti gun-rights bill was forwarded. That very controversial bill basically obliterates concealed carry and your right to self defense through the 2nd Amendment. That’s just one example. There are many more controversial bills being moved forward through informal sessions.
All that would be required to stop the bill from being forwarded would be a legislator to show up and say, "I doubt the presence of a quorum." The session would then shut down. But no one did that for H2359. Did they?
Imagine how many bad bills would be stopped if lawmakers would just show up to work and follow their oath to the Constitution?!
We need to end unconstitutional, informal sessions. They are unwarranted, shortcut sessions for the convenience of salaried legislators at the expense of the Massachusetts people. Every bill deserves the same procedure including a quorum, hearing, and roll call vote.
Finally, all legislators should vote for good governance as they were elected to do! Their constituents deserve nothing less.
The Massachusetts legislature is taking unconstitutional shortcuts – passing a large number of its bills into law or moving them forward through what they call “informal sessions.” Alarmingly, these sessions are held with as few as 2 or 3 legislators present. The proper quorum for conducting business required by the Massachusetts Constitution is a majority of legislators, which is equal to 81 state representatives or 21 senators. This resolution calls on the Massachusetts Legislature to hold all legislative sessions with the constitutionally required quorum. Please read the resolution and show your support by signing and adding your comment.
PETITION
Whereas, the Massachusetts Legislature is a full-time, salaried body, with travel stipends, and legislators are expected to report to work;
Whereas, the Massachusetts Constitution specifically says that a “majority of the members of each branch of the general court shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business;”
Whereas, informal sessions have too few (oftentimes only two to three) representatives or senators meeting, typically two or three times every week, to pass dozens of bills before an empty chamber under the false pretense that there is the required quorum; [See posted House and Senate informal sessions on the State House website.]
Whereas, a majority of all bills in Massachusetts get passed through this corrupt practice;
Whereas, all bills deserve the same attention to proper legislative process as required by the Massachusetts Constitution.
Therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we the people of Massachusetts condemn informal sessions that do not have a quorum as required in the Massachusetts Constitution;
Resolved, that we the people of Massachusetts urge all members of the Massachusetts Legislature to hold every legislative session with the proper quorum so that they properly conduct business for the benefit of its citizens, as they were elected to do;
Resolved, that any time legislators conduct an informal session without a quorum, we the people of Massachusetts call for a representative or senator to show up at the session to announce, “I doubt the presence of a quorum” which will immediately terminate the session so that this corrupt practice ends.
BACKGROUND
It's really important to see what's going on with informal sessions for yourself. Watch the following June 3rd informal session. Watch the speaker ask, "All those in favor say 'Aye'; all those opposed say 'Nay'; the Ayes have it" to a chamber full of ice hockey players – not legislators! Watch how some bills go from first to third reading in mere minutes.
In the above linked informal session video, you will see that the House Bill H2359 anti gun-rights bill was forwarded. That very controversial bill basically obliterates concealed carry and your right to self defense through the 2nd Amendment. That’s just one example. There are many more controversial bills being moved forward through informal sessions.
All that would be required to stop the bill from being forwarded would be a legislator to show up and say, "I doubt the presence of a quorum." The session would then shut down. But no one did that for H2359. Did they?
Imagine how many bad bills would be stopped if lawmakers would just show up to work and follow their oath to the Constitution?!
We need to end unconstitutional, informal sessions. They are unwarranted, shortcut sessions for the convenience of salaried legislators at the expense of the Massachusetts people. Every bill deserves the same procedure including a quorum, hearing, and roll call vote.
Finally, all legislators should vote for good governance as they were elected to do! Their constituents deserve nothing less.
Please click here to: sign the petition.
