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Journal of the Senate ______FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 the Senate Was Called to Order by the President
Journal of the Senate ________________ FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 The Senate was called to order by the President. Devotional Exercises A moment of silence was observed in lieu of devotions. Message from the House No. 82 A message was received from the House of Representatives by Ms. Alona Tate, its Second Assistant Clerk, as follows: Madam President: I am directed to inform the Senate that: The House has considered a bill originating in the Senate of the following title: S. 101. An act relating to promoting housing choice and opportunity in smart growth areas. And has passed the same in concurrence with proposal of amendment in the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested. The House has considered the reports of the Committees of Conference upon the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on House bills of the following titles: H. 360. An act relating to accelerated community broadband deployment. H. 433. An act relating to the Transportation Program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation. H. 449. An act relating to the membership and duties of the Vermont Pension Investment Commission and the creation of the Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force. And has adopted the same on its part. The House has considered Senate proposals of amendment to the following House bills: H. 88. An act relating to certification of agricultural use for purposes of the use value appraisal program. H. 122. An act relating to boards and commissions. 1246 Printed on 100% Recycled Paper FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 1247 H. 135. An act relating to the State Ethics Commission. -
Dentons 50 2020 Outlook an Excerpt from Dentons' US Policy Scan
Dentons 50 2020 Outlook An excerpt from Dentons’ US Policy Scan Dentons 50 2020 Outlook • 1 ALABAMA Permanent Fund Dividend: The Governor ARKANSAS wants to restore the dividend that all Alaskans Republicans enjoy impressive supermajorities The General Assembly meets for its receive from oil and gas revenues to $3000. in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature abbreviated fiscal session in April 2020. The republican House and Senate forced the as well as control of the governorship. Governor to accept a $1600 payout as they Strains between Tea Partiers and Chamber Key issues in 2020 grappled with continued budget shortfalls. of Commerce Republicans occasionally Medicaid: It appears the work requirement complicate the policy-making process, but tied to the state’s Medicaid expansion Spending: After vetoing the legislature’s initial the divide was bridged last year when both program, Arkansas Works, will be struck budget, the Governor accepted restored chambers passed an increase in the gas tax down in federal court, which could prompt funding in several areas including childhood to invest in road and bridge infrastructure the conservative Arkansas General Assembly, learning, legal service and senior citizen improvements. the state legislature, to consider withdrawing programs. He also moderated on cuts to the funding from the program altogether. Key issues in 2020 University of Alaska system. Look for all of these programs to be subject to cuts again Prison and criminal justice reform: Possible special session: Republican in 2020. Leadership is expected to prioritize prison Governor Asa Hutchinson may call a special and criminal justice reform to reduce cost session of the legislature to address vaping ARIZONA and address federal lawsuits against the state and hate crimes, but only if he has the votes alleging overcrowded conditions and subpar The 2020 legislative session will likely be to pass the bills. -
Legislative Oversight in Vermont
Legislative Oversight in Vermont Capacity and Usage Assessment Oversight through Analytic Bureaucracies: Moderate Oversight through the Appropriations Process: Moderate Oversight through Committees: Limited Oversight through Administrative Rule Review: Limited Oversight through Advice and Consent: Limited Oversight through Monitoring Contracts: Minimal Judgment of Overall Institutional Capacity for Oversight: Limited Judgment of Overall Use of Institutional Capacity for Oversight: Limited Summary Assessment While Vermont has a relatively weak governor, it also has limited legislative oversight mechanisms. Vermont’s legislature does not appear to regularly use the oversight tools available to it. Growing partisanship and increasing tensions between the legislature and the executive in recent years appear to magnify some of the flaws in the system of legislative oversight in Vermont. Major Strengths Vermont’s legislature has an unusually large amount of influence over the appropriations process, a circumstance resulting from the fact that the governor does not have line-item veto authority. Similarly, standing committees routinely call agency heads in for questioning, which at times has prompted policy changes from those agencies. While recent disputes between the legislature and the governor have made the appropriations process more contentious, the legislature has remained united across partisan lines and was able to pass a budget in the face of repeated gubernatorial vetoes. Vermont also has sunrise laws in place that require agencies to demonstrate that any new rules will yield positive outcomes before being enacted. Challenges Vermont’s legislature has the power to block gubernatorial appointees, but this power is used rarely. In recent cases when it has happened, blocking of nominees has been characterized as “highly unusual” and motivated by partisanship. -
PSI Staff Memorandum To
PSI Staff Memorandum To: The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations From: Subcommittee Staff Date: April 30, 2020 Re: Roundtable on Continuity of Senate Operations and Remote Voting in Times of Crisis On April 30, 2020, at 9 a.m., the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hold an online roundtable via WebEx entitled “Continuity of Senate Operations and Remote Voting in Times of Crisis.” The recorded roundtable will be posted to the Subcommittee’s website. The Subcommittee will hear from the following experts: Martin B. Gold, Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC Joshua C. Huder, Senior Fellow, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University Lorelei Kelly, Fellow, Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, Georgetown University Jurisdiction: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, whose jurisdiction governs the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, has jurisdiction over congressional organization, including continuity and technological issues such as those discussed here. This memorandum does not endorse any specific technology, however, which is under the purview of the Senate Sergeant at Arms. The Senate Committee on Rules has jurisdiction over the rules changes discussed in this memorandum. Introduction The COVID-19 virus has shut down major sectors of our society, including many functions of Congress. By rule and custom, the two chambers of Congress have always met in person to conduct business, including committee hearings, floor deliberation, and voting. Neither chamber has contingency plans that allow those functions to proceed remotely, but this crisis highlights the need to consider means for Congress to do its job at times when it may not be safe for members and staff to gather in person. -
Legislative Staff Services
Legislative Staff Services Profiles of the 50 States and Territories Data gathered in 2005 and 2006 AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY | GU | PR | VI Legislative Staff Services: Profiles of the 50 States and Territories 2005-06 ALABAMA GENERAL Staff services are nonpartisan, centrally organized and, except as discussed below, operated by the House and Senate. Central agencies, however, function independently from one another and from the House and Senate, but under the general supervision of different joint committees. Central agency directors, the clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate are principally responsible for hiring, supervision and personnel policy. The clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate have very broad authority to determine management and personnel matters for the largest number of employees. The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House have separate staffs and funding. SHARED SENATE/HOUSE SERVICES Legislative Reference Service Under the supervision of the Legislative Council, the Legislative Reference Service provides general legal and policy research, bill drafting, library services, codification and administrative code publishing services. Legislative Fiscal Office Operations of the Legislative Fiscal Office are overseen by the Joint Fiscal Committee. The agency provides general fiscal research, staffs the budget committees and prepares fiscal notes on pending legislation. Department of Examiners of Public Accounts Operations of the agency are overseen by the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts. -
Roster Executive Committee 2019-20
ROSTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2019-20 NCSL OFFICERS President Staff Chair Speaker Robin Vos Martha R. Wigton Assembly Speaker Director – House Budget & Research Wisconsin Legislature Office State Capitol, Room 217 West Georgia General Assembly PO Box 8953 412 Coverdell Legislative Office Building Madison, WI 53708-8953 18 Capitol Square (608) 266-9171 Atlanta, GA 30334 [email protected] (404) 656-5050 [email protected] President-Elect Staff Vice Chair Speaker Scott Saiki Joseph James “J.J.” Gentry, Esq. Speaker of the House Counsel, Ethics Committee – Senate Hawaii State Legislature South Carolina General Assembly State Capitol PO Box 142 415 South Beretania Street, Room 431 205 Gressette Building Honolulu, HI 96813 Columbia, SC 29202 (808) 586-6100 (803) 212-6306 [email protected] [email protected] Vice President Immediate Past Staff Chair Speaker Scott Bedke Jon Heining Speaker of the House General Counsel – Legislative Council Idaho Legislature Texas Legislature State Capitol Building PO Box 12128 PO Box 83720 Robert E. Johnson Building 700 West Jefferson Street 1501 North Congress Avenue Boise, ID 83720-0038 Austin, TX 78711-2128 (208) 332-1123 (512) 463-1151 [email protected] [email protected] Executive Committee Roster 2019-20 ROSTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Immediate Past President Speaker Mitzi Johnson Speaker of the House Vermont General Assembly State House 115 State Street Montpelier, VT 05633-5501 (802) 828-2228 [email protected] AT LARGE MEMBERS Representative -
States That Prohibit Campaign Contributions During Legislative Sessions
States that Prohibit Campaign Contributions During Legislative Sessions Overview 28 states place restrictions on giving and receiving campaign contributions during the legislative session. In some states, the ban applies only to contributions by lobbyists, principals and/or political committees; other states have a general ban on contributions. Prohibition/restriction on any Prohibition/restriction only on contributions during session lobbyist contributions during session Alabama Arizona Alaska Colorado Florida Connecticut Georgia Iowaa Illinoisb Kansasa Indiana Louisianab Maryland Maine Nevada Minnesotaa New Mexico North Carolina Oregonc Oklahoma Tennessee South Carolina Texas Vermont Utah Wisconsin Virginia Washington (a) Political action committee contributions also restricted during session. (b) Limited ban on fundraisers during session; see below for details. (c) The ongoing enforcement of Oregon’s law is in doubt; see below for details. State-by-State Provisions Alabama Ala. Code § 17-22A-7(b)(2). Candidates for state offices may not solicit or accept contributions during the period when the Legislature is convened in session. Exception for a period of 120 days before any primary, runoff or general election, and for candidates participating in a special election. Alaska AS §24.60.031. A legislator or legislative employee may not on a day when either house of the legislature is in regular or special session, solicit or accept a contribution or a promise or pledge to make a contribution for a campaign for the state legislature. Exception for the 90 days immediately preceding an election for contributions made outside of the capital city. Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 41-1234.01. Lobbyists are prohibited from soliciting, promising to solicit, making or promising to make campaign contributions to members of the Legislature or the Governor during the regular legislative session, and when legislation from the regular session awaits gubernatorial action. -
Campaign Finance and Randall V. Sorrell: How Much Is Too Much and Who Decides? the Court's Splintering Devotion to Its Own Problematic Framework Natalie Rainforth
Pepperdine Law Review Volume 35 | Issue 1 Article 5 12-15-2007 Campaign Finance and Randall v. Sorrell: How Much is Too Much and Who Decides? The Court's Splintering Devotion to Its Own Problematic Framework Natalie Rainforth Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/plr Part of the Election Law Commons Recommended Citation Natalie Rainforth Campaign Finance and Randall v. Sorrell: How Much is Too Much and Who Decides? The Court's Splintering Devotion to Its Own Problematic Framework, 35 Pepp. L. Rev. 1 (2008) Available at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/plr/vol35/iss1/5 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pepperdine Law Review by an authorized administrator of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Campaign Finance and Randall v. Sorrell: How Much is Too Much and Who Decides? The Court's Splintering Devotion to Its Own Problematic Framework TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION II. CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND A. Pre-Buckley v. Valeo B. Congress Asks & the Court Answers: Buckley v. Valeo C. The Buckley Aftermath D. A New Era: The BCRA & McConnell v. FEC III. BACKGROUND ON VERMONT LAW IV. FACTS & PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF RANDALL V. SORRELL A. Campaign Expenditures B. Campaign Contributions C. ProceduralDisposition V. ANALYSIS OF THE COURT'S OPINION A. Justice Breyer's Plurality Opinion 1. Expenditure Restrictions 2. Contribution Restrictions B. Justice Alito's ConcurringOpinion C. Justice Kennedy's ConcurringOpinion D. Justice Thomas's ConcurringOpinion E. -
Council of State Governments Capitol
THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS SEPT 2011 CAPITOL RESEARCH SPECIAL REPORT Public Access to Official State Statutory Material Online Executive Summary As state leaders begin to realize and utilize the incredible potential of technology to promote trans- parency, encourage citizen participation and bring real-time information to their constituents, one area may have been overlooked. Every state provides public access to their statutory material online, but only seven states—Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah and Vermont—pro- vide access to official1 versions of their statutes online. This distinction may seem academic or even trivial, but it opens the door to a number of questions that go far beyond simply whether or not a resource has an official label. Has the information online been altered—in- tentionally or not—from its original form? Who is in March:2 “You’ve often heard it said that sunlight is responsible for mistakes? How often is it updated? the best disinfectant. And the recognition is that, for Is the information secure? If the placement of a re- us to do better, it’s critically important for the public source online is not officially mandated or approved to know what we’re doing.” by a statute or rule, its reliability and accuracy are At the most basic level, free and open public access difficult to gauge. to the law that governs this country—federal and As state leaders have moved quickly to provide state—is necessary to create the transparency that is information electronically to the public, they may fundamental to a functional participatory democracy. -
How Vermont's Campaign-Finance Law Can
LESS IS MORE AND SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: HOW VERMONT’S CAMPAIGN-FINANCE LAW CAN REJUVENATE DEMOCRACY Brian L. Porto* † INTRODUCTION: VERMONT AS A LABORATORY FOR DEMOCRACY “Bigger is better” seems to be the ethos that guides campaign finance in American politics. The best evidence of this is the extraordinary growth of campaign spending in the United States in recent decades. In 1968, spending on all political campaigns totaled approximately $300 million.1 By 1996, however, presidential and congressional campaign spending alone exceeded $2 billion.2 In 2000, then-Governor George W. Bush of Texas conducted the most expensive presidential campaign in American history raising more than $191 million and spending more than $183 million during the two-year period prior to the 2000 presidential election.3 A growing public perception that politicians favor their campaign contributors over their constituents has accompanied the growth in campaign spending that has occurred since the 1960s. A University of Michigan survey asking Americans whether they thought that government was run for the benefit of the public at-large or for the benefit of “special interests” found that in 1964 64% of the respondents said that the chief beneficiary of government was the public.4 In 1974, however, only 25% of the respondents believed that government chiefly benefited the public, and by 1994 that figure had declined to 19%.5 The flip side of this coin is that the percentage of respondents who said that government was run for the benefit of “a few special interests” increased from 29% in 1964 to 66% in * Member of the Bar, Vermont and Indiana. -
Office of Policy and Legal Analysis LD 153
Office of Policy and Legal Analysis LD 153 LD 153 Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Change the Number of Legislators Requires To Approve Constitutional Amendment (Kinney) To: Members, Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government From: Lynne Caswell, Esq., Legislative Analyst Date: March 1, 2021 SUMMARY This resolution proposes to amend Maine’s Constitution to require that 2/3 of all members elected to each House of the Legislature vote in favor of a constitutional amendment. Currently a vote of 2/3 of the members present is required. TESTIMONY Sponsor: Representative Kinney Proponents: written only: Maine Policy Institution, Nick Murray Opponents: none NFNA: none INFORMATION REQUESTS 1. When does Maine’s Constitution require a 2/3 vote of all members of each House? ➢ State Mandate (Art. 9, §21); ➢ Emergency law (Art. 4, Part 3rd, §16); ➢ Reduce or alter the use of a State Park (Art. 9, §23); and ➢ Expend Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund (Art. 9, §20) 2. What do other New England states require for constitutional amendments (see Attachment A for details) ➢ Connecticut - Put to a stateside vote (majority to pass) if o Vote by least 75% of both chambers; or ; o Vote by a majority but less than 75% of “the total membership of each chamber”, then carried over and “approved by a majority” ➢ Massachusetts – placed on ballot if approved by majority of both houses at 2 successive joint legislative ➢ New Hampshire – 60% vote of each house ➢ Rhode Island – roll call vote of majority of members elected to each house ➢ Vermont – originate in Senate; 2/3 vote of members of Senate + majority vote of House members; then majority vote of both chambers at next biennial session of general assembly OPLA ( 2/25/2021 12:31 PM) Page 1 of 4 Office of Policy and Legal Analysis LD 153 POTENTIAL ISSUES / TECHNICAL PROBLEMS None identified FISCAL IMPACT - Preliminary (OFPR) None provided as of this date. -
Executive Committee 2018 - 2019 Member Roster (Last Update May 20, 2019)
Executive Committee 2018 - 2019 Member Roster (Last update May 20, 2019) NCSL OFFICERS President Staff Chair Senator Toi Hutchinson Jon Heining Illinois General Assembly General Counsel – Legislative Council Capitol Building, Room 108-A Texas Legislature 301 South Second Street PO Box 12128 Springfield, IL 62706 Robert E. Johnson Building (217) 782-7419 1501 North Congress Avenue [email protected] Austin, TX 78711-2128 Year 3 (512) 463-1151 [email protected] Year 5 President-Elect Staff Vice Chair Speaker Robin Vos Martha R. Wigton Wisconsin Legislature Director – House Budget & Research Office State Capitol, Room 217 West Georgia General Assembly PO Box 8953 412 Coverdell Legislative Office Building Madison, WI 53708-8953 18 Capitol Square (608) 266-9171 Atlanta, GA 30334 [email protected] (404) 656-5050 Year 5 [email protected] Year 4 Vice President Immediate Past Staff Chair Speaker Scott Saiki Chuck Truesdell Hawaii State Legislature Fiscal Analyst State Capitol Office of Budget Review 415 South Beretania Street Legislative Research Commission Room 431 Kentucky General Assembly Honolulu, HI 96813 Room 136, Capitol Annex (808) 586-6100 702 Capitol Avenue [email protected] Frankfort, KY 40601 Year 4 (502) 564-8100 EXT 578 [email protected] Year 5 Immediate Past President Senator Curt Bramble Utah Legislature Years served as an NCSL officer State Capitol, Suite 320 350 North State Street or ex-officio member do not Salt Lake City, UT 84114 count toward the three-year (801) 538-1035 [email protected]