|
The Clerk will read the amendment.
READING CLERK: Amendment No. 18
to Committee Recommendation LB-2, by Del-
egate Gallagher: On page 5 section 3.17,
Journal and Passage of Bills, in line 4
immediately preceding the word "daily"
and the word "current", and in the same
line after the word "proceedings" and the
words, "which shall be open to public in-
spection at all reasonable times."
THE CHAIRMAN: Amendment No. 18
is proposed by Delegate Gallagher.
Is there a second.
(Whereupon the motion was duly sec-
onded.)
THE CHAIRMAN: The amendment hav-
ing been seconded the Chair recognizes
Delegate Gallagher.
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Chair-
man, ladies and gentlemen of the Commit-
tee: The purpose of Amendment No. 18 is
to reinsert in section 3.17 the sense of what
the Constitutional Commission drafted in
its section 3.17 on page 142 of the volume.
There has only been one change from the
language of the Constitutional Commission
draft, and that is the insertion of the word,
reasonable, so that we would now say that
each House of the General Assembly shall
keep a current daily journal of its proceed-
ings, which shall be open to public inspec-
tion at all reasonable times.
The reason that the word, "reasonable,"
was added, was prompted by a letter from
Carl Everstine, the Department of Legis-
lative Reference, who said if he used the
phrase, "at all times," he was fearful that
on a New Year's Eve, while he was en-
gaged in lighthearted frivolity at some
party, a taxpayer of the State might call
upon him and say, "I would like to take a
look at the Journal of the Proceedings,"
and he did not feel that he wanted to be
interrupted in his New Year's Eve merri-
ment. Consequently we felt it was proper
to insert the word, "reasonable," assuming,
of course, that the New Year's Eve, after
the close of business was not reasonable.
The other change was the insertion of
the word, "current", a current daily
journal.
The Committee on the Legislative Branch
met yesterday morning at an early hour
and has given approval to the insertion of
the phrase, which shall be open to public
inspection at all reasonable times.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any delegate
desire to speak in opposition to the amend-
|
ment, or are there any questions of the
sponsor of the amendment?
Is there any further discussion?
(There was no response.)
Are you ready for the question?
(Call for the question.)
The motion having been seconded, the
Clerk will ring the quorum bell.
The question arises on Amendment No.
18 to Committee Recommendation LB-2.
A vote Aye is a vote in favor of Amend-
ment No. 18. A vote No is a vote against.
Cast your votes.
Has every delegate voted? Does any dele-
gate wish to change his vote?
(There was no response.)
Mr. Boyce has voted Aye. The clerk will
record the vote.
There being 117 votes in the affirmative
and one in the negative, the motion carries.
The amendment is adopted.
Delegate Sherbow, you have an amend-
ment. Do you desire to offer it at this time?
The pages will please distribute the
amendment. This will be Amendment No.
19.
The Clerk will read the amendment.
READING CLERK: Amendment No. 19
to Committee Recommendation LB-2, by
Delegates Sherbow and Case: On page 5,
section 3.17, Journal and Passage of Bills,
in line 16 after the word "resolution" add
the words: "or for the election or con-
firmation of any State officer."
DELEGATE CASE: I second it.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recog-
nizes Delegate Sherbow to speak to the
Committee.
DELEGATE SHERBOW: Mr. Chair-
man and members of the Committee: Ac-
tually this is for clarification as much as
anything else. The way the committee pro-
posal would read there would be public
sessions where votes are taken when there
is either a resolution or a bill for action.
Actually the General Assembly will also be
voting, for example, on the election of a
person chosen as a post auditor.
In addition, they will be acting in the
Senate on matters dealing with confirma-
tion of officers. Delegate Case and I
do not, and I emphasize "not," intend
|
