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Thursday, April 06, 2006
Reform the N.C. House
We find ourselves on this Thursday applauding a group of Republican North Carolina House members calling for the reform of House rules. Namely,
* Limiting the speaker's tenure to three two-year terms.
* Letting party caucuses appoint their members to legislative committees. The number of members for each committee would be determined by the percentage of seats each party controls in the House.
* Banning provisions within the state budget that have little to do with spending, and banning closed-door budget meetings between House and Senate conferees.
* Establishing an independent redistricting commission to avoid gerrymandered legislative districts to favor incumbents.
What's fair is fair. The Democrats have run the N.C. House like a plantation, and presumably the Republicans would do the same when they take power. Neither situation is in the best interests of the state.
* Limiting the speaker's tenure to three two-year terms.
* Letting party caucuses appoint their members to legislative committees. The number of members for each committee would be determined by the percentage of seats each party controls in the House.
* Banning provisions within the state budget that have little to do with spending, and banning closed-door budget meetings between House and Senate conferees.
* Establishing an independent redistricting commission to avoid gerrymandered legislative districts to favor incumbents.
What's fair is fair. The Democrats have run the N.C. House like a plantation, and presumably the Republicans would do the same when they take power. Neither situation is in the best interests of the state.
