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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


2.02.2007

 

They've got some explaining to do

An update on the House debate about a proposed rule that would restrict the length of a representative's explanation of a vote that are published in the House Journal.

Earlier this week, lawmakers got into a tangle over a plan to limit published explanations to 50 words. Lawmakers would still be free to speak as long as they wanted -- and they certainly have gone on in the past. Some in the House have gotten tired of lengthy, after-the-vote commentaries that seemed more like election-protection. Opponents of the word limit said the rule was a violation of free speech.

Today a substitute proposal came up for a vote. The new proposal said only, "It is generally recommended that vote explanations should be infrequent and brief."

Most House members agreed with this admonition or wanted to just get done with this debate. The vote to pass the resolution was 125-19.

Rep. Duncan Kilmartin, R-Newport, objected to the original rule and still objected to the revised admonition. He said so in a explanation of his vote!

Here is what he said: "I do not need advice as to the exercise of my Constitutional right and duty to explain my reasons for a recorded vote. Neither will I affront or insult my fellow representatives in recommending how frequently or to what extent they exercise their individual rights of recording their reasons for their votes. To do so is an insult to the Constitution and the citizens of Vermont from whom we derive our power and authority.

-- Nancy Remsen

Comments:
With thanks to Molly Ivins:

Duncan Kilmartin is so stupid, he would not know how to pour water out of a boot if the instructions were printed on the heel.

If he lost any more IQ points, we'd have to water him.
 
Where in the Constitution does it dictate House rules ??

Where does it say that Representitives have the Constitutional right to have their remarks published in the House journal?

What a fool.
 
In talking about roll call votes, Chapter II Section 9 of the Vermont Constitution reads as follows " ... in which case every member of either House shall have a right to insert the reasons of the members vote upon the minutes."

If you are going to criticize Kilmartin you ought to know what you're talking about. What a fool you must be.
 
THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS !!!!!

You took one LITTLE section of a large paragraph. Read the whole section.

It says "WHEN ONE-THIRD OF THE HOUSE THINK IT NECESSARY ..." the house procedings are printed.

Otherwise, the house procedings aren't published at all !!

Kilmartin is wasting EVERYONE'S time. Next week, he'll be whining about how long the leg session is.
 
First of all, Kilmartin is claiming that it's within his First Amendment rights to bloviate after a vote - there's absolutely no way that the First Amendment protects long speeches in a state legislature.

Second of all, the Vermont constitution, as was pointed out, only has that proviso if 1/3 of the house consents, and even then, it doesn't say anything about talking - it says reasons can be included in the minutes.
 
Amen.

But I feel bad for Duncan. His knuckles must get really sore from dragging on the ground all day.
 
What they really should do away with is the hourlong portion of the day dedicated to honoring every Vermont High School sports team's victories. What a waste of taxpayer money to have 150 people sitting around yawning. Oh, and do away with the devotional exercises, too.
 
Duncan isn't as stupid as you think he is.

He usually wears gloves to protect his knuckes when they drag on the ground.

He's clever like that.
 
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