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Panel mulls Legislature reform
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 | No comments posted.
SALEM (AP) - A new public commission created to recommend how the Legislature might improve its image and performance held its first meeting Tuesday to examine what Senate President Peter Courtney told the panel is a damaged institution.
"This state needs help with its legislative branch. It has been flawed lately," said Courtney, who along with House Speaker Karen Minnis appointed the 30-member Public Commission on the Legislature.
Lawmakers have been criticized in recent years as holding overly long biennial sessions marred by increasingly partisan squabbling.
Courtney said the Legislature nonetheless is the most fundamental part of the government.
"No other branch has closer access to people than their state representative and state senator," he said.
The panel includes current and former legislators, former Supreme Court justices, business executives, a pollster, legislative staff, news media representatives and others.
The panel's leaders are Gary Wilhelms, chief of staff for Minnis, and Laura Pryor, longtime head of the Gilliam County commission.
One proposal the commission is expected to consider is whether lawmakers should meet every year but in shorter sessions. Only six states have biennial sessions.
The panel also is expected to delve into whether legislators and staff should be paid more and if facilities should be upgraded.
"This state needs help with its legislative branch. It has been flawed lately," said Courtney, who along with House Speaker Karen Minnis appointed the 30-member Public Commission on the Legislature.
Lawmakers have been criticized in recent years as holding overly long biennial sessions marred by increasingly partisan squabbling.
Courtney said the Legislature nonetheless is the most fundamental part of the government.
"No other branch has closer access to people than their state representative and state senator," he said.
The panel includes current and former legislators, former Supreme Court justices, business executives, a pollster, legislative staff, news media representatives and others.
The panel's leaders are Gary Wilhelms, chief of staff for Minnis, and Laura Pryor, longtime head of the Gilliam County commission.
One proposal the commission is expected to consider is whether lawmakers should meet every year but in shorter sessions. Only six states have biennial sessions.
The panel also is expected to delve into whether legislators and staff should be paid more and if facilities should be upgraded.
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