And the blah goes on
WE could be wrong but it seems that some lawmakers are unaware of — or perhaps indifferent to — how a bicameral legislature functions. Surely everyone knows that before legislation can reach the governor, it must be passed by both houses. And before it can become law, a bill must be approved by the governor. If he vetoes it, two-thirds of the members in each house can vote for an override to enact the measure.
In other words, any lawmaker who is serious about legislation that s/he believes should become law must draft it in a way to 1) attract the support of other lawmakers in both houses as well as the governor; and 2) ensure that there are enough votes for an override in both houses in case of a veto.
However, certain lawmakers seem to be under the impression that their legislative proposals or pronouncements should be greeted with universal acclamation — and that there is no need for further discussions. They do not seek a compromise. What they want is to be told that they’re absolutely right. They don’t want a dialogue; they expect conversion. Instead of reaching out to their colleagues in private, they prefer talking to the media, livestreamed.
For their partisan supporters and in their echo chambers, they can’t do anything wrong. But, so far, they can’t get things done either. And doing things “For The People!” — that was supposed to be one of their top goals as elected officials.
Consider: since December, they have repeatedly said in public that they all want the retirees to receive holiday bonuses, and that the funding for the bonuses exists. Four months later, there are still no bonuses for the retirees.
In the private sector, employees who can’t do what they’re hired to do are, more often than not, fired. In the government, many “public servants” who are all talk but no walk are usually re-elected.
Asking for a friend
AS for the Senate impeachment trial — again, “everyone’s” for it, but now House leaders want more time — one month — to correct what the Senate says are “deficiencies” in the impeachment record.
The Senate should find a way to extend the deadline. The House, for its part, should prosecute the governor. The prosecutor designated by the Senate president is a member of the House team which can still help the designated prosecutor in many other ways during the trial.
We are, of course, making these suggestions on the assumption that the House and the Senate want to hold an impeachment trial.
But some of the House leaders — finally realizing that there are not enough votes in the Senate to convict the governor — seem to be not as enthusiastic about the trial as they were before. For their part, the Senate leaders, clearly, are unwilling to be lectured, for hours, in their own chamber by the House.
“Worst case” scenario: The articles of impeachment, according to the Senate rules, “shall be presented to the Senate for final verdict and judgment….”
House leaders can (and will) continue to insist that the governor broke the law. If true, then he will be, sooner or later, charged or sued in court. If not, the AG’s office should issue an explanation to the public. (In Jan. 2021, the then-chief prosecutor informed the public why the AG’s office could not prosecute a lawmaker accused of sexual misconduct.)
Voters, for their part, can announce their own “verdict” in November.
Meanwhile, are there any legislative proposals to address the government’s financial obligations next year when there are no more ARPA funds? Any new legislative ideas that may help revive the tourism industry and/or the economy?
