I've posted in total Bill Doyle's excellent "My Turn" in the Saturday, Feb. 23 Free Press and taken the liberty of inserting some of my comments. Bill has it right!! Our Legislature is often led away from the serious issues the state faces by its present leadership. More important, good people are discouraged from running for office because of the heavy time commitment and the intense partisan bickering.
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My Turn: State's citizen Legislature at risk
Published: Saturday, February 23, 2008 in The Burlington Free Press
By Sen. Bill Doyle
In recent years, there has been no contest in a significant number of open legislative seats during the election year. The political parties have worked harder than ever to recruit candidates. Potential candidates always ask about the time requirements and many have expressed they would like to serve, but the number of months away from their occupations is too great. [The fact there's a shortage of typical 'party' candidates presents an opportunity for those who believe that substantial change in direction is needed. Of course, committing the time is THE issue. We should target incumbents who are on the 'wrong side of the tracks' and who might otherwise run unopposed, supported by a strong platform]
Recruitment of legislative candidates is also adversely affected by a more recent trend, the proliferation of study groups. Sen. Peter Shumlin, the president pro tem, has said: "The line between the citizen legislature and the full-time legislature is the summer study committees. My philosophy has always been, the fewer the better. Those lawmakers who are appointed to study committees are often those who do not hold full-time jobs, which has the effect of limiting input from any lawmakers whose jobs don't allow them to sit on the off season study panels." In recent years, the number of study committees has averaged over 30. Representative Anne Donahue has written: "Those who fear we are moving more and more toward a full-time legislature and oppose it (like myself) be on guard. There are more and more legislative committees that are meeting on special topics during the "in between" of a two-year session, in addition to the oversight committees, the study committees, and the special meetings. The increase this year is a significant jump." [I don't have a particular bias against 'study groups' per se. Over the years, I've participated in a couple when my employer's interests were affected. However, they tend to be dominated by people who have resources at their disposal, special interest groups, lobbyists, not-for-profits, think tank type people. They don't hear the typical 'business' voice. Often the people who are asked to submit content and viewpoints are 'selected' with a bias to the desired outcome, or the report writers who prepare the reports can have an intrinsic bias...the power of MY pen syndrome.]
Thirteen new interim study committees were added this year, and the total cost of all the committees is estimated to be $178,000. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of bills introduced in the Vermont General Assembly over the years.
During the past 40 years, the number of bills has doubled from approximately 500 1965 to approximately 1,200 in recent years. This has had the effect of increasing the length of the session and increases operating costs and has led to increased staffing. In fairness, legislatures throughout the nation have taken on more responsibility, and the issues have become more complex. [It's true the issues are more complex, but any legislator should have a set of rock-solid principles on which to separate the wheat from the chaff. Equally important is the ability to be truly independent in thinking and voting. Senator Doyle has this trait, consequently the Republicans have often seen him as a maverick.]
Increased partisan bickering during the legislative session is another unfortunate development. It extends the length of sessions and contributes to the difficulties of recruiting candidates to run for the general assembly. People who would otherwise be inspired to serve their state listen to the noise of politics and prefer to stay home.The ideal of a citizen legislature is in jeopardy in Vermont when we cannot attract good people to serve. Lack of candidates also has implications for citizenship in the democratic process. The system works best when the individual voter has a choice and there is competition for legislative seats. [AMEN!]
In recent years throughout the nation, the public has favored limiting legislative sessions, and according to the Book of the States, published by the Council of State Governments: "Voters in Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada and Oklahoma all approved constitutional amendments that resulted in shorter legislative sessions. Vermont is one of the few states that place no limit on the length of legislative sessions." Maybe it's time to restrain ourselves, and make a greater commitment to productivity (and consequently a reduction in the amount of political wrangling).
Decreasing the introduction of bills could decrease the length of legislative sessions, would increase the possibility of recruiting more people to run for the general assembly, would create greater public confidence in the legislature, and would result in better utilization of staff time. It would help preserve the citizen legislature and aid the democratic process by increasing the possibility of competition for a legislative seat. [Doyle's wisdom is on display. At some point we should connect with him (a small meeting with him) for support of what we're trying to accomplish. At least we should get our hands on the results of the annual poll he conducts on voting day.]
If we expect good management practices from our state agencies, we should implement good management practices for the Vermont General Assembly. [This is the type of leadership we should expect from the 'leaders' in the House and Senate. Instead, we have highly partisan rallying and wrangling and playing to the media and their constituencies rather than statesmanship in how they manage the people's business. In as many rational and public ways as possible, we should point out how our Legislative leaders have wandered from their mission.]
Bill Doyle is the minority leader of the Vermont Senate. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Government Operations Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
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My Turn: State's citizen Legislature at risk
Published: Saturday, February 23, 2008 in The Burlington Free Press
By Sen. Bill Doyle
In recent years, there has been no contest in a significant number of open legislative seats during the election year. The political parties have worked harder than ever to recruit candidates. Potential candidates always ask about the time requirements and many have expressed they would like to serve, but the number of months away from their occupations is too great. [The fact there's a shortage of typical 'party' candidates presents an opportunity for those who believe that substantial change in direction is needed. Of course, committing the time is THE issue. We should target incumbents who are on the 'wrong side of the tracks' and who might otherwise run unopposed, supported by a strong platform]
Recruitment of legislative candidates is also adversely affected by a more recent trend, the proliferation of study groups. Sen. Peter Shumlin, the president pro tem, has said: "The line between the citizen legislature and the full-time legislature is the summer study committees. My philosophy has always been, the fewer the better. Those lawmakers who are appointed to study committees are often those who do not hold full-time jobs, which has the effect of limiting input from any lawmakers whose jobs don't allow them to sit on the off season study panels." In recent years, the number of study committees has averaged over 30. Representative Anne Donahue has written: "Those who fear we are moving more and more toward a full-time legislature and oppose it (like myself) be on guard. There are more and more legislative committees that are meeting on special topics during the "in between" of a two-year session, in addition to the oversight committees, the study committees, and the special meetings. The increase this year is a significant jump." [I don't have a particular bias against 'study groups' per se. Over the years, I've participated in a couple when my employer's interests were affected. However, they tend to be dominated by people who have resources at their disposal, special interest groups, lobbyists, not-for-profits, think tank type people. They don't hear the typical 'business' voice. Often the people who are asked to submit content and viewpoints are 'selected' with a bias to the desired outcome, or the report writers who prepare the reports can have an intrinsic bias...the power of MY pen syndrome.]
Thirteen new interim study committees were added this year, and the total cost of all the committees is estimated to be $178,000. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of bills introduced in the Vermont General Assembly over the years.
During the past 40 years, the number of bills has doubled from approximately 500 1965 to approximately 1,200 in recent years. This has had the effect of increasing the length of the session and increases operating costs and has led to increased staffing. In fairness, legislatures throughout the nation have taken on more responsibility, and the issues have become more complex. [It's true the issues are more complex, but any legislator should have a set of rock-solid principles on which to separate the wheat from the chaff. Equally important is the ability to be truly independent in thinking and voting. Senator Doyle has this trait, consequently the Republicans have often seen him as a maverick.]
Increased partisan bickering during the legislative session is another unfortunate development. It extends the length of sessions and contributes to the difficulties of recruiting candidates to run for the general assembly. People who would otherwise be inspired to serve their state listen to the noise of politics and prefer to stay home.The ideal of a citizen legislature is in jeopardy in Vermont when we cannot attract good people to serve. Lack of candidates also has implications for citizenship in the democratic process. The system works best when the individual voter has a choice and there is competition for legislative seats. [AMEN!]
In recent years throughout the nation, the public has favored limiting legislative sessions, and according to the Book of the States, published by the Council of State Governments: "Voters in Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada and Oklahoma all approved constitutional amendments that resulted in shorter legislative sessions. Vermont is one of the few states that place no limit on the length of legislative sessions." Maybe it's time to restrain ourselves, and make a greater commitment to productivity (and consequently a reduction in the amount of political wrangling).
Decreasing the introduction of bills could decrease the length of legislative sessions, would increase the possibility of recruiting more people to run for the general assembly, would create greater public confidence in the legislature, and would result in better utilization of staff time. It would help preserve the citizen legislature and aid the democratic process by increasing the possibility of competition for a legislative seat. [Doyle's wisdom is on display. At some point we should connect with him (a small meeting with him) for support of what we're trying to accomplish. At least we should get our hands on the results of the annual poll he conducts on voting day.]
If we expect good management practices from our state agencies, we should implement good management practices for the Vermont General Assembly. [This is the type of leadership we should expect from the 'leaders' in the House and Senate. Instead, we have highly partisan rallying and wrangling and playing to the media and their constituencies rather than statesmanship in how they manage the people's business. In as many rational and public ways as possible, we should point out how our Legislative leaders have wandered from their mission.]
Bill Doyle is the minority leader of the Vermont Senate. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Government Operations Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
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