SENATE BILL: Productive Committees Resolution (Passed)

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I'm open to whatever. The driving force behind me wanting to pass a resolution like this one was the fact that it's incredibly hard to run a committee that only has two active members. Voting to endorse the passage of a bill is almost pointless, and an absence of any length can inhibit committees much more than it would inhibit the senate as a whole. I think it makes sense to give the senate the power to kick people out of committees.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I realize that it isn't expelling them from the Senate and thus doesn't fall into the 2/3rds Constitutional requrement, but wouldn't 2/3rds be better for matters of consistency? As long as it is tied to a day inacitvity requirement I don't think we have much to worry about anyway.

I don't mind changing it to 2/3rds.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Friendly. To both.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Friendly.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I know people talked about making this more comprehensive... is there anything else folks want to add?

I'm also good with getting this through now so we have room to discuss other business. What's the verdict?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I disagree. The choice to abstain or not vote can sometimes be telling. I'd rather keep the democratic element.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Friendly, but if anyone else objects I will vote nay.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Friendly.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Friendly.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I actually wouldn't withdraw your comments, clarence, because I agree with you. In fact, I've been tempted to present a "Let's be Honest with Ourselves Resolution," disbanding all committees. I know it's kind of a touchy subject, but... I am so worn down by all the administration that has to go into these committees. And I don't even do the administering.

There's ample work to be done, sure. We can do busy work all we want. We can have the Judiciary debate bills before they come to the floor and then simply watch as its members quote their statements from the Judiciary thread once the bills comes to debate. Or we could stop doing the same work twice.

If there are special tasks that require a committee, by all means, let's pass a resolution to have these special committees set up shop temporarily. But I think all tasks related to a committtee should be delegated to whoever wants to lead the project... the "chairman." That way we keep committees out of senate business so they can maybe go on to tackle issues that the senate doesn't have the time to deal with. Right now, I really do think that the committees represent a lot of busy work. As time goes on, they get more and more enshrined in the senate's culture, even though, quite frankly, they aren't working. I think it's a little bit dangerous.

So if other people wanted to get rid of committees... straight-up, I'd be standing right beside them. In a heartbeat.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Friendly.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Is there anything else people want to do with this? I guess my suggestion of slashing the committees altogether wasn't exactly well-recieved...

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Aye