Virginia’s part-time legislature moves quickly. And time-pressed lawmakers expect the same from citizens who want their voices heard.
Every year, regardless of which party is in charge, committee and subcommittee chairs have repeatedly advised those testifying on Capitol Hill to move things along quickly. They often remind speakers that a countdown timer is running or encourage them to consider whether a weigh-in is necessary.
There is wide agreement that some time management of public comments, which are typically held within 60 days, is needed in the Virginia session. But critics say the structure of the General Assembly means important deliberations are held behind closed doors and public concerns are temporarily ignored.
While Virginia State Police are busy with cases, Yonkin prioritizes mental health policy
Sally Hudson, a professor at the University of Virginia and a former member of the House of Representatives, said, “Virginia’s legislative calendar was not designed with public opinion in mind,” and is calling for a review of the session structure.
One particular exchange last week, in which violent crime victims had limited voice, highlighted the issue and drew sharp rebuke from the state’s Republican attorney general and governor, who are in the minority in both chambers, as well as Republican lawmakers.
The incident occurred during a session led by Democratic Rep. Vivian Watts, the third-most senior member of the House of Delegates. The committee was considering so-called “second look” legislation supported by criminal justice reform advocates. This bill would allow individuals serving long sentences to apply to the court for a potential sentence reduction.
Congresswoman Vivian Watts speaks in the House of Delegates at the Capitol on January 23, 2007 in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia lawmakers agree there is a need to control public comment time at public hearings, but only after victims of violent crimes have been cut off or prevented. Strict limits on public comment have drawn criticism, as was fully spoken at a recent public hearing. (AP Photo/Steve Herber, File)
After the subcommittee heard an explanation of the bill, Watts allowed lobbyists and members of the public in the room, including crime victims, six minutes to testify, followed by six minutes for opponents. He said he would accept the testimony of
When his opponent’s six minutes were up with just three speakers, Watts tried to separate the group. Her microphone appeared to be silenced as the murder victim’s wife insisted that she be heard.
Michael Gray, whose son was shot and killed while trying to sell an iPhone in 2018, was next to take the microphone. Watts asked him to stop talking and chided him for persisting, saying, “I’m not happy with your performance, but I’ll let you go first.”
Melinda Wallin, who appeared shaken, followed and briefly introduced herself to Spotsylvania County Attorney Ryan Mehaffey, who prosecuted the shooting death of Wallin’s son in 2019. “Her son died in her arms and I just want one minute. We’ve been here all day. Please.”
After a long pause, Watts said, “Next speaker, please,” according to a transcript of the meeting.
“I just felt treated unfairly. I felt very disrespected,” Wallin said in an interview this week.
Watts said he tried to be clear and fair about the expectations he set out and gave speakers some leeway. The tightly compressed nature of Virginia’s sessions means they will have to move on at some point, she said.
“We’re trying to cover as much legislation in eight weeks as Congress does in a year,” he said.
The exchange was memorable, but common, and highlighted the time pressures faced by lawmakers, most of whom earn about $18,000 a year and travel long distances to Richmond.
The General Assembly, which legislates the narrowly politically divided state of about 8.7 million people, considers thousands of bills in sessions scheduled for up to 60 days in even-numbered years, but fewer in odd-numbered years. Lawmakers typically don’t meet on weekends and typically structure their work week so that they finish work earlier on Friday.
Nationally, state legislatures vary greatly in the length of their legislative sessions and have different policies regarding how they respond to public opinion. Some give visitors more time and freedom than others. Citizens who visit Parliament House to petition the government also face a range of regulations that limit the posting of signs, political messages on clothing and even places where people can gather.
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert said Virginia lawmakers cannot debate each issue at length or they would run out of time. But he said more time should be given to the public, especially on sensitive topics like second-look legislation.
Gilbert also suggested that the limited public comment may have been intentional in this case.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year, but after a hearing that included more than an hour of testimony that included emotional pleas from victims who said the bill would exacerbate their trauma, the House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously last year. It was rejected by the committee with bipartisan unanimous support.
By the end of public comment, then-sponsor Democratic Sen. Chap Petersen threw up his hands and said, “Do whatever you want with this bill. … I’m so sorry to these families. very sorry.”
Broadly speaking, legislative speaking time limits (which vary by panel) appear to have become stricter overall this session, said Megan Lyne, executive director of the Virginia Open Government Coalition. Ta. He also questioned why the Senate does not allow subcommittees to take public comments online or allow them to submit written public comments.
Joanne Port, president of the League of Women Voters of Virginia, expressed similar concerns about the Senate’s virtual testimony policy and lack of an option to submit written comments.
But other congressional observers noted how much more access and transparency has improved compared to pre-pandemic times, when not all meetings were recorded and there was no ability to testify online.
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In today’s parliament, there are many instances in which not only visitors but also members of Congress have been instructed to keep their statements and questions brief. One case occurred in a House subcommittee discussing the closure of multiple state prisons, and the other in a Senate committee discussing collective bargaining and other employment-related measures.
“Hurry up!” Democratic committee chairman Sen. Clay Dees added with a laugh about the later bill.
Dees said in an interview that he would like to include as much public input as possible, but with so many bills, “there’s not a lot of time for that.”
Virginia legislature’s short time limit for public comments leaves some feeling disrespected
Virginia’s part-time legislature moves quickly. And time-pressed lawmakers expect the same from citizens who want their voices heard.
Every year, regardless of which party is in charge, committee and subcommittee chairs have repeatedly advised those testifying on Capitol Hill to move things along quickly. They often remind speakers that a countdown timer is running or encourage them to consider whether a weigh-in is necessary.
There is wide agreement that some time management of public comments, which are typically held within 60 days, is needed in the Virginia session. But critics say the structure of the General Assembly means important deliberations are held behind closed doors and public concerns are temporarily ignored.
While Virginia State Police are busy with cases, Yonkin prioritizes mental health policy
Sally Hudson, a professor at the University of Virginia and a former member of the House of Representatives, said, “Virginia’s legislative calendar was not designed with public opinion in mind,” and is calling for a review of the session structure.
One particular exchange last week, in which violent crime victims had limited voice, highlighted the issue and drew sharp rebuke from the state’s Republican attorney general and governor, who are in the minority in both chambers, as well as Republican lawmakers.
The incident occurred during a session led by Democratic Rep. Vivian Watts, the third-most senior member of the House of Delegates. The committee was considering so-called “second look” legislation supported by criminal justice reform advocates. This bill would allow individuals serving long sentences to apply to the court for a potential sentence reduction.
Congresswoman Vivian Watts speaks in the House of Delegates at the Capitol on January 23, 2007 in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia lawmakers agree there is a need to control public comment time at public hearings, but only after victims of violent crimes have been cut off or prevented. Strict limits on public comment have drawn criticism, as was fully spoken at a recent public hearing. (AP Photo/Steve Herber, File)
After the subcommittee heard an explanation of the bill, Watts allowed lobbyists and members of the public in the room, including crime victims, six minutes to testify, followed by six minutes for opponents. He said he would accept the testimony of
When his opponent’s six minutes were up with just three speakers, Watts tried to separate the group. Her microphone appeared to be silenced as the murder victim’s wife insisted that she be heard.
Michael Gray, whose son was shot and killed while trying to sell an iPhone in 2018, was next to take the microphone. Watts asked him to stop talking and chided him for persisting, saying, “I’m not happy with your performance, but I’ll let you go first.”
Melinda Wallin, who appeared shaken, followed and briefly introduced herself to Spotsylvania County Attorney Ryan Mehaffey, who prosecuted the shooting death of Wallin’s son in 2019. “Her son died in her arms and I just want one minute. We’ve been here all day. Please.”
After a long pause, Watts said, “Next speaker, please,” according to a transcript of the meeting.
“I just felt treated unfairly. I felt very disrespected,” Wallin said in an interview this week.
Watts said he tried to be clear and fair about the expectations he set out and gave speakers some leeway. The tightly compressed nature of Virginia’s sessions means they will have to move on at some point, she said.
“We’re trying to cover as much legislation in eight weeks as Congress does in a year,” he said.
The exchange was memorable, but common, and highlighted the time pressures faced by lawmakers, most of whom earn about $18,000 a year and travel long distances to Richmond.
The General Assembly, which legislates the narrowly politically divided state of about 8.7 million people, considers thousands of bills in sessions scheduled for up to 60 days in even-numbered years, but fewer in odd-numbered years. Lawmakers typically don’t meet on weekends and typically structure their work week so that they finish work earlier on Friday.
Nationally, state legislatures vary greatly in the length of their legislative sessions and have different policies regarding how they respond to public opinion. Some give visitors more time and freedom than others. Citizens who visit Parliament House to petition the government also face a range of regulations that limit the posting of signs, political messages on clothing and even places where people can gather.
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert said Virginia lawmakers cannot debate each issue at length or they would run out of time. But he said more time should be given to the public, especially on sensitive topics like second-look legislation.
Gilbert also suggested that the limited public comment may have been intentional in this case.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year, but after a hearing that included more than an hour of testimony that included emotional pleas from victims who said the bill would exacerbate their trauma, the House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously last year. It was rejected by the committee with bipartisan unanimous support.
By the end of public comment, then-sponsor Democratic Sen. Chap Petersen threw up his hands and said, “Do whatever you want with this bill. … I’m so sorry to these families. very sorry.”
Broadly speaking, legislative speaking time limits (which vary by panel) appear to have become stricter overall this session, said Megan Lyne, executive director of the Virginia Open Government Coalition. Ta. He also questioned why the Senate does not allow subcommittees to take public comments online or allow them to submit written public comments.
Joanne Port, president of the League of Women Voters of Virginia, expressed similar concerns about the Senate’s virtual testimony policy and lack of an option to submit written comments.
But other congressional observers noted how much more access and transparency has improved compared to pre-pandemic times, when not all meetings were recorded and there was no ability to testify online.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In today’s parliament, there are many instances in which not only visitors but also members of Congress have been instructed to keep their statements and questions brief. One case occurred in a House subcommittee discussing the closure of multiple state prisons, and the other in a Senate committee discussing collective bargaining and other employment-related measures.
“Hurry up!” Democratic committee chairman Sen. Clay Dees added with a laugh about the later bill.
Dees said in an interview that he would like to include as much public input as possible, but with so many bills, “there’s not a lot of time for that.”
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