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Thursday, May 7, 2009

James Pindell bats .500

In his latest New Hampshire Magazine column, political reporter James Pindell reflects on the unique nature of New Hampshire's 400-member House. Any Representative can introduce legisaltion, and each bill requires a public hearing in Committee and a vote on the House floor.
Here are two ideas that would change the Statehouse for the better.

Give more power to leadership. State law says that every bill, like the one of fences, gets a public hearing and a vote in committee. We should give chairman the ability to not bring up bills that are obviously non-starters.

Shorten sessions. The Legislature meets for six months every year and members get paid just $100 for their service. Historically, sessions lasted just a few months each year and it was a true citizen legislature. Now it is more of a “leisure legislature,” i.e. members are not like you and me. They are generally college students, retired or independently wealthy with time on their hands. Long sessions only mean big decisions get delayed, legislation isn’t focused and true leaders and talent are left on the sidelines — or leave after a term or two.

The first idea is horrible. The fact that leadership can't throw a bill "in a drawer" like they do in Washington is a good thing, and gives each and every member of the House real indepedance. We should not surrender that distinction, and allow the very few weilding gavels in Concord to set the Legislature agenda. Our 400 State Representatives introduces over 1,000 bills a year, and that number should probably be lower. But the way to reduce bad legslation is to vote for other people.

The second idea has great merit. New Hampshire used to do just fine with the Legislature meeting once every two years, and coming back into session only if necessary. And even the House breaks for the summer, the State House is still humming with activity, and study committees and other legislatively-created busywork fill the halls. Shortening the Session in the second year, or returning to Biennial Sessions, would force House and Senate leadership to set real priorities, meet deadlines, and make the tough choices that we expect for $100 a year.

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