Letter: Reform Caucus works toward a better legislative process

Posted 1/15/19

To the editor:

I am writing in response to the Jan. 11 letter titled, “The Reform Caucus Can Embrace Democracy.”

The Reform Caucus, of which I am part, is advocating for changes to …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: Reform Caucus works toward a better legislative process

Posted

To the editor:

I am writing in response to the Jan. 11 letter titled, “The Reform Caucus Can Embrace Democracy.”

The Reform Caucus, of which I am part, is advocating for changes to the rules that govern the House of Representatives — changes that would allow for a more transparent, efficient and fair legislative process that is both accessible and responsive to the public.

Nonpartisan good government organizations like Common Cause and Portsmouth Concerned Citizens are proponents of the rules changes introduced by the Reform Caucus.

In the final days of the 2017 session, 272 pieces of legislation came to the House floor for a vote after the House rules were suspended. It is not possible to read, let alone understand, the intent of these bills before voting “yea” or “nay.” In this mountain of legislation may be bills that are designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many. 

As legislators, we have a duty to ensure that there are no unintended consequences of legislation. The Reform Caucus recommends that the House rules only be suspended when a two-thirds majority votes to do so. We also recommend that more bills be brought to the floor earlier in the session to allow the necessary time to review changes that may affect our state.

Other recommendations of the Reform Caucus include:

• Requiring a bill be posted for a minimum of 48 hours, allowing the public and legislators time to consider any written changes made to a bill. (A 24-hour posting was agreed upon in committee last week.)

• Bills that have the broad support of the public and the legislature could be discharged for a floor vote if 38 of the 75 legislators agree. (Presently, only the speaker can allow bills to come to the floor, which denies Rhode Islanders the opportunity to see where their state representative stands on important legislation.)

• Allowing bills to be kept alive for two years if introduced in the first year.

• Creating the Office of Inspector General and passing the “line item veto.”

Institutional reform is often accomplished through dissent. As Americans we tolerate and defend the right to dissent. I am proud to be part of a group of 19 legislators who are embracing democracy by proposing reform.

I am looking forward to my second term serving the citizens of Bristol, Portsmouth, and Rhode Island. Regardless of the outcome of these specific proposals, I will continue to advocate for good government reforms.

Rep. Susan R. Donovan

District 69-Bristol/Portsmouth

Bristol

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.