Are Nevada Legislators Part Vampire?
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
I fully understand the question posed in the headline might be considered as a negative slam over the extra fees connected with the just completed Nevada Legislative session and how acquiring those extra dollars from selected providers seemed to be less than a completely willing donation. However, that really isn’t my point. Having spent most of Sunday in the Legislative building (during daylight hours) and not seeing much by way of legislative actions, things pick up and start happening after the sun goes down.
Although another couple of commitments kept me from attending the Saturday round, the legislative activity on the Senate floor at least got on into the night and wrapped up around midnight, according to the reports that I heard.
During the 2009 Nevada Legislative Session, the work after most of the behind closed door meetings, took place later into the night.
Would the results be different or better if the legislating took place during daylight hours? It’s hard to say I suppose and impolite perhaps to raise the question.
Our elected representatives have worked hard to do their best – during the 2010 Special Session and in past sessions as well. The issues they wrestle with are serious and the process requires lots of give and take as well as considerations of details that sometimes seem mind-numbing. I also fully understand that just because legislators aren’t on the floor or in public meetings during the day, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t working diligently behind the closed doors on arranging the materials and ideas that will be used when they get down to work – after the sun goes down…but, maybe we could look at switching the schedule to the deal-making and logistics getting worked out until the wee hours of the morning and the legislating taking place on a day-light schedule. I know it would have cut into staying current with the Olympic Hockey Game on Sunday, but that’s what Internet computer connections and ear-phones are for.
It’s probably selfish of me to ask for such a rescheduling and possible legislative use of day-time operations, but some of us have to get up early in the morning and staying up all night to try and keep an eye on what our elected representatives are up to is really cutting into the time required for my beauty sleep…no wonder I look the way I do!
I fully understand the question posed in the headline might be considered as a negative slam over the extra fees connected with the just completed Nevada Legislative session and how acquiring those extra dollars from selected providers seemed to be less than a completely willing donation. However, that really isn’t my point. Having spent most of Sunday in the Legislative building (during daylight hours) and not seeing much by way of legislative actions, things pick up and start happening after the sun goes down.
Although another couple of commitments kept me from attending the Saturday round, the legislative activity on the Senate floor at least got on into the night and wrapped up around midnight, according to the reports that I heard.
During the 2009 Nevada Legislative Session, the work after most of the behind closed door meetings, took place later into the night.
Would the results be different or better if the legislating took place during daylight hours? It’s hard to say I suppose and impolite perhaps to raise the question.
Our elected representatives have worked hard to do their best – during the 2010 Special Session and in past sessions as well. The issues they wrestle with are serious and the process requires lots of give and take as well as considerations of details that sometimes seem mind-numbing. I also fully understand that just because legislators aren’t on the floor or in public meetings during the day, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t working diligently behind the closed doors on arranging the materials and ideas that will be used when they get down to work – after the sun goes down…but, maybe we could look at switching the schedule to the deal-making and logistics getting worked out until the wee hours of the morning and the legislating taking place on a day-light schedule. I know it would have cut into staying current with the Olympic Hockey Game on Sunday, but that’s what Internet computer connections and ear-phones are for.
It’s probably selfish of me to ask for such a rescheduling and possible legislative use of day-time operations, but some of us have to get up early in the morning and staying up all night to try and keep an eye on what our elected representatives are up to is really cutting into the time required for my beauty sleep…no wonder I look the way I do!
Posted by Doug Busselman at 3/1/2010 5:59 AM 
Categories: Nevada Legislature
Tags: Nevada Legislative Special Session Nevada Budget
Categories: Nevada Legislature
Tags: Nevada Legislative Special Session Nevada Budget
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