Open Up the Process

Delegate Amundson has a post up about a proposal from Ken Plum to record all votes in legislative subcommitees.

This is a no brainer.  This vote is a very simple one- between those who want an open and accountable process and those who have an agenda to hide the actions they take on behalf of the public.  Please contact your legislator and ask them to support the Plum proposal.  This ranks as one of the most important, bipartisan votes of the session.

(I'm posting this from Roanoke today, if anyone is around in town drop me an email while I am here.  Hopefully this post comes out right from this mobile connection.)

Comments

Pulling some of that Roanoke wool, eh?

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

I heard that someone saw Hunter Pickels up on Mill Mountain near the flower "bed"?

[Not Jack Herrity]

Funny thing is that subcommittee votes weren't recorded when the Democrats were in power either (in fact they've never been recorded), but Plum doesn't have much to say about that.

NJH

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

Wasn't that back in the days when they used quills & pens?

Nothing was online back then, right NJH?

Agreed NJH. When AL Philpott, Ed Willey, Hunter Andrews, Tom Moss, Dickie Cranwell, and the rest of that motley bunch ruled the General Assembly, which they did for eons and with an iron fist, the Republicans were lucky to get on committees -- any committees, even bad ones. Republican bills were co-opted or killed with little or no consideration. Redistricting plans and budgets appeared with no input (read: virtually no) afforded the few Republicans in the legislature.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, the Democrats cry foul.

It's laughable.

Rank, utter hypocrisy.

It's fun to watch bad Democrat-penned bills disappear into thin air.

It's called being in the minority.

Win it back; if you can. Otherwise, stop whining.

What do the many Ds on this site think of Pelosi's railroading bills through Congress with NO Republican input? Where's that outrage?

[SE VA MWC Alum]

the difference is that now in the house subcommittees can kill bills

In DC Pelosi's making a mistake-actually both sides are looking bad because R's are complaining about the same things they used to do. Tweedle - Dee and Tweedle Dum on Capitol Hill but what else is new

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

Brilliant logic Anon 5:19.

I guess the public interest doesn't enter into the equation. Payback justifies everything.

[Mr. Ugly]

Yep, Anon 5:19, that is exactly what the Dems did for years; I got to watch it first hand. Does that make it right? Somewhere, someday, someone in the GA who is in a leadership position in the majority party, is going to say: "Enough!! We are here to represent the people, not a political party." Let me know when that happens, because I want to look out of the window & watch the pigs flying.....

[Grapes]

Ken Plum is fruity.

[Not Jack Herrity]

NHFB, Democratic rule wasn't THAT long ago, but nice try. :)

NJH

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

Yeah, but I still think it was before everything was online, right?

[Let the Sunshine in]

Who cares if the Democrats did the same thing when they were in power? Two wrongs don't make a right! It was wrong then, and it's wrong now- the difference is we can do something about it now. Also, the Dems only ever killed a handful of bills back then, last year the GOP killed about 600, they're definitely abusing the rule. Let your representatives know you support Plum's resolution. And he's not fruity, he's a great guy!

[Poli-Carp]

"the Dems only ever killed a handful of bills back then"

Yeah, because the Republicans were smart enough not to waste their time introducing bills. As an old man, who had been active in business and politics, once told me, "Back then, we just went straight to Dickie Cranwell's office, and he told us if we'd get our legislation passed or not. Didn't have to worry with any lobbyists." Man, the '80's and '90's were something. Now I'm feeling old. ;-)