by Larry Geller, Disappeared News, February 11, 2016

The purpose of the 48-hour notice rule is so that the public may participate meaningfully in the legislative process. If you wanted to attend a hearing or give testimony, shortening the notice cheats you of your opportunity to be heard.

Yes, the rule may be waived. Rep. Angus McKelvey (Chair, CPC Committee) requested a waiver for bills heard yesterday at 2:10 p.m. for decision making today at 5:00 p.m..

I just found out about it. No, I don’t want to attend the decision making that will take place in just a few minutes from now, but if I did, I couldn’t get there on time.

The Speaker should ideally “just say no” to these requests. But don’t hold your breath.

There was another.

EDB Chair Derek Kawakami asked for a waiver of the 48 hour notice to hear HB1588 and HB2160 tomorrow at 10:30 a.m..

Why do I post pictures of the committee chairs? It’s too easy, should a reporter cover any of these bills, to write that “decision making on these bills was deferred until…”, for example. The passive voice hides the information that someone did something. In this case, a committee chair decided to disregard the public interest. That should be documented.

Perhaps one day the shenanigans will stop.

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