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We have heard here much discussion
about visibility. I can think of no single
factor which would give a legislator more
visibility than the written history. If that
history were not available in one day or
one week but were available even two
months later, it might be very valuable,
and I would urge the delegates to consider
this seriously.
I would also point out that much of what
we are proposing will cost a little bit more
than what we are spending today on our
state government. I think this is something
that we have to face.
If the state government is to live up to
its responsibility and carry out its part in
the governmental structure, there will have
to be more money spent on the business of
government. However, I do think that all
of this money will be wisely spent. I think
we can be penny wise in this area if we do
not provide the means whereby our citi-
zens can be informed and whereby our
legislators can have the information.
I urge you to vote against the amend-
ment.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Mitchell.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: Mr. President
and fellow delegates, I think this is the
time for Delegate Storm's recommendation
of an innovation. We are having all of
these new electronic and other inventions
all the time, and with the suggestion, it
seems to me, instead of saying "audible or
oral record", if we say "a record of its de-
bate/' rather than "transcript". Just say "a
record" and then it would be up to the
General Assembly to provide that it be
either an oral record or Delegate Storm's
sug-gestion of this new electronic device
that both records the oral debate and the
picture of the experience. In investigating
that, it is relatively inexpensive.
I would strongly urge that we vote
against the amendment.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Freed-
lander.
DELEGATE FREEDLANDER: I move
the previous question, please.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there a second?
(The motion was duly seconded.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Clerk will ring
the quorum bell.
The motion has been made to order the
previous question. A vote Aye is a vote in
favor; a vote No a vote against. All in
favor signify by saying Aye. Contrary No.
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The Ayes seem to have it. The Ayes have
it. It is so ordered. The question arises on
the adoption of Amendment No. 11. A vote
Aye is a vote in favor of the amendment.
A vote No is a vote against.
Cast your votes.
Has every delegate voted ? Does any
delegate desire to change his vote ?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
T.here being 58 votes in the affirmative,
and 43 in the negative, the motion is car-
ried. The amendment is adopted.
Delegate Rybczynski.
DELEGATE RYBCZYNSKI: A point of
inquiry.
THE PRESIDENT: State your inquiry.
DELEGATE RYBCZYNSKI: On line 20
and 21 of the same section, is it the Chair's
opinion that a further amendment is nec-
essary to delete the reference to "transcript
of debates"?
THE PRESIDENT: That is what I just
spoke to Delegate Gallagher about, and he,
I think, is going to make a motion.
Delegate Gallagher.
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Presi-
dent and ladies and gentlemen: In view of
the action just taken by the body, I think
we should be consistent, and therefore I
would move that on line 20 —
DELEGATE JAMES: Mr. Chairman,
could I make a suggestion?
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate James.
DELEGATE JAMES: If you change the
word "shall" to "may" it would leave the
concept of the possibility of providing for
a typed record, but it would not be manda-
tory. If you simply change the word
"shall" to "may" on line 21.
THE PRESIDENT: To make it read
smoothly, I think, Delegate James, that it
would be desirable to change the word
"the" in line 20 to "a", and then I think,
Delegate Gallagher, the amendment would
be in order, and probably preferable.
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: So that,
Mr. Chairman, the sentence would therefore
read "Each House shall provide by rule
that the daily journal shall be published as
soon as practicable and that a transcript
of debates may be made available at rea-
sonable times to the public."
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