MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – The Wisconsin Assembly will consider time limits for its debates.
It’s the only item on the agenda for Wednes’s first meeting of the new session.
Two years ago, Republican and Democratic leaders agreed to informal rules which gave each party a 30-minute time limit to state its case for or against each bill. Now, majority Republicans want to formalize the time limit, to make sure it’s not violated.
More time could be granted for debates if both sides agree.
The original time limit came in response to what happened in 2011 — when minority Democrats dragged out a debate for 61 straight hours against the GOP’s Act 10 public union bargaining limits.
It didn’t do the Democrats any good, since the measure passed on a party-line vote.
In the new session, Republicans seek to control the debate on a host of hot button issues — like abortion limits, right-to-work legislation, and school accountability, not to mention the various tax and spending issues in the next state budget.
Among other things, the time limits could prevent Democrats from delaying passage of the budget by adding on dozens of amendments.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
