Rep. Lee Quandt on Speaker Bill O'Brien

not so special sesssion (0.00 / 0)

Part Second of the State Constitution reads:

[Art.] 15. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected the sum of $250, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, the sum of $200 and each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the annual assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of $3 per day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days.

The September 14th and October 12th session days are technically not special sessions: they are continuations of the  regular 2011 session.  Since it is after July 1st, no mileage is paid. Traditionally, the House and Senate meets once in the fall to deal with vetos.  Traditionally, vetos were dealt with the way the Senate still deals with them: in an orderly fashion according to a openly announced schedule.

The SB 88 veto vote was the most dramatic event on September 14th, but the introduction of the new bills was the most irregular.  Instead of calling the House back for the purpose of  voting to suspend the rules to enable the late introduction of several bills, O'Brien should have asked for a special session.  The Governor could have ordered one unilaterally, and he has done so in the past.  Failing that, the House and Senate could have voted to go into special session.  

---

by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 06:14:01 AM CDT

Let them cling to O'Brien (0.00 / 0)

It makes our job so much easier.

In any event, any House Republican that is running for reelection this time is going to have to stand up for their votes.  And I know we aren't going to let them slither away from them.

"We start working to beat these guys right now." -Jed Bartlet

---

by: cblodg @ Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 08:21:22 AM CDT

Doing some legwork for us (4.00 / 1)

All these roll call votes are going to make for some interesting questions for incumbents next year.

---

by: dooper @ Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 09:18:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]