mauserme Posted February 13, 2015 at 12:25 PM Author Posted February 13, 2015 at 12:25 PM That's good to know, although I think that heavily supported arguments with citations would also do something of the trick, as well. Research is another of my bailiwicks, so for the right one, I think I might be inclined to send them something along those lines at some point. I'll have to look at which ones in the future are going through the system and maybe come up with some stuff preemptorily to submit the next time. Incidentally, I noticed the count is 101 and 95 against for 148 and 265 respectively, with no proponents whatsoever for either. I wonder how much weight these witness slips actually have in the actual practice of swaying a vote. What's the policy on that? Say, if there is no support for but that many, or even more against, will it actually prevent the bill from advancing or anything? When a bill is introduced in committee, witnesses giving oral testimony (if any) are introduced and on our bills mention is usually made of hundreds of witness slips that will be made part of the record. They are not read publicly, but do become part of the legislative history. The second part of your question is more difficult to answer because so many factors can influence a bill. Our voices factor into the over all support and opposition from other groups, and especially from leadership within each legislative body. Perhaps the best answer is that they do influence the process, in varying degrees. We have definitely prevented bills from advancing - the lame duck session at the end of the 97th General Assembly being a particularly good (and tense) example.
ChicagoRonin70 Posted February 13, 2015 at 03:41 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 03:41 PM That's good to know, although I think that heavily supported arguments with citations would also do something of the trick, as well. Research is another of my bailiwicks, so for the right one, I think I might be inclined to send them something along those lines at some point. I'll have to look at which ones in the future are going through the system and maybe come up with some stuff preemptorily to submit the next time. Incidentally, I noticed the count is 101 and 95 against for 148 and 265 respectively, with no proponents whatsoever for either. I wonder how much weight these witness slips actually have in the actual practice of swaying a vote. What's the policy on that? Say, if there is no support for but that many, or even more against, will it actually prevent the bill from advancing or anything? When a bill is introduced in committee, witnesses giving oral testimony (if any) are introduced and on our bills mention is usually made of hundreds of witness slips that will be made part of the record. They are not read publicly, but do become part of the legislative history. The second part of your question is more difficult to answer because so many factors can influence a bill. Our voices factor into the over all support and opposition from other groups, and especially from leadership within each legislative body. Perhaps the best answer is that they do influence the process, in varying degrees. We have definitely prevented bills from advancing - the lame duck session at the end of the 97th General Assembly being a particularly good (and tense) example. Ah, so even if someone writes a literal game-changing treatise on why a certain position on a bill is the correct one, it's not going to be read to the general assembly members and have much of an opportunity to have much, if any impact. It'll just get filed away with the legislative record on the bill in question, correct? Well, that's unfortunate if that's the case. The other information about what help witnessing for a bill has (Testifiiiiiiy!) is good to know. I am a proponent of actually acting to advance causes that I believe in, but futile or useless effort annoys me at having wasted my time.
mauserme Posted February 13, 2015 at 03:55 PM Author Posted February 13, 2015 at 03:55 PM When a bill is introduced in committee, witnesses giving oral testimony (if any) are introduced and on our bills mention is usually made of hundreds of witness slips that will be made part of the record. They are not read publicly, but do become part of the legislative history. The second part of your question is more difficult to answer because so many factors can influence a bill. Our voices factor into the over all support and opposition from other groups, and especially from leadership within each legislative body. Perhaps the best answer is that they do influence the process, in varying degrees. We have definitely prevented bills from advancing - the lame duck session at the end of the 97th General Assembly being a particularly good (and tense) example. Ah, so even if someone writes a literal game-changing treatise on why a certain position on a bill is the correct one, it's not going to be read to the general assembly members and have much of an opportunity to have much, if any impact. It'll just get filed away with the legislative record on the bill in question, correct? Well, that's unfortunate if that's the case. The other information about what help witnessing for a bill has (Testifiiiiiiy!) is good to know. I am a proponent of actually acting to advance causes that I believe in, but futile or useless effort annoys me at having wasted my time. Not being read publicly shouldn't be taken to mean it would not be available to members of the legislature who care to read it. They have the option, as well, to read it into the record if they so choose.
captainskullet Posted February 13, 2015 at 03:56 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 03:56 PM quick question. Where does one go to get "the score" on witness slips? I remember seeing it back int the fccl debate days but for the life of me am not able to find the pro and oppose numbers on the bills.
armadroid Posted February 13, 2015 at 04:02 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 04:02 PM Do they at least announce the witness slips? LIke 150 members of the public are opponents of this bill?
mauserme Posted February 13, 2015 at 04:02 PM Author Posted February 13, 2015 at 04:02 PM quick question. Where does one go to get "the score" on witness slips? I remember seeing it back int the fccl debate days but for the life of me am not able to find the pro and oppose numbers on the bills. See post #32
mauserme Posted February 13, 2015 at 04:04 PM Author Posted February 13, 2015 at 04:04 PM Do they at least announce the witness slips? LIke 150 members of the public are opponents of this bill? Yes, they do acknowledge them, sometimes by exact count but more often in general terms like "hundreds" or "pages and pages". I remember once they were compared to the Chicago phone book.
Bushy223 Posted February 13, 2015 at 05:03 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 05:03 PM Done, both bills, x3 Bushy
rams_1_again Posted February 13, 2015 at 05:15 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 05:15 PM Opponent slips entered on both bills.
armadroid Posted February 13, 2015 at 05:27 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 05:27 PM do we have evidence that these help? I really wish we could bring every representative out to the range to go shooting. They would see why it isn't something scary and we might convert a few.
StogieRob Posted February 13, 2015 at 07:38 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 07:38 PM done Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
McCroskey Posted February 13, 2015 at 08:05 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 08:05 PM Poor Colleen Daley looks so lonely there all by herself...
mauser98 Posted February 13, 2015 at 08:58 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 08:58 PM Done on both bills.
ChicagoRonin70 Posted February 13, 2015 at 09:10 PM Posted February 13, 2015 at 09:10 PM Poor Colleen Daley looks so lonely there all by herself... That is both hilarious and pathetic, that only one rabid anti-self-protection advocate can be mustered up to support these bills, whereas close to a couple hundred against are registering their opposition.
Molly B. Posted February 14, 2015 at 03:12 AM Posted February 14, 2015 at 03:12 AM When a bill is introduced in committee, witnesses giving oral testimony (if any) are introduced and on our bills mention is usually made of hundreds of witness slips that will be made part of the record. They are not read publicly, but do become part of the legislative history. The second part of your question is more difficult to answer because so many factors can influence a bill. Our voices factor into the over all support and opposition from other groups, and especially from leadership within each legislative body. Perhaps the best answer is that they do influence the process, in varying degrees. We have definitely prevented bills from advancing - the lame duck session at the end of the 97th General Assembly being a particularly good (and tense) example. Added note: Although bills may be sent to a committee that is "weighted" to make sure they pass out of committee, having overwhelming numbers of witness slips, either for or against, sends a strong message to the sponsors and the leadership just what kind of battle they are facing with the voters who will be pressuring their legislators. Many bills make it out of committee easily because of the particular committee they are assigned to be heard, and then never see another ray of light because the sponsor doesn't call it for a vote. We favor hitting a bill hard as soon as it hits the ground in committee.
SiliconSorcerer Posted February 14, 2015 at 02:58 PM Posted February 14, 2015 at 02:58 PM Done of course
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