Brawner: Have Recent Changes Meant Fewer Laws?
by March 13, 2012 5:54 am 91 views
Steve Brawner with the Arkansas News Bureau looks at some reasons why legislative productivity may be on the decline, and not necessarily in a bad way.
Writes Brawner:
Let’s start with the assumption that it’s inherently better not to pass a law unless it’ How Should I Contact My Ex Girlfriend s necessary. Laws can be messy, many have costs, and many infringe on our freedoms.
So it was a good thing this past month when legislators met at the Capitol and didn’t accomplish more than they had to.
In fact, the Legislature seems to be passing fewer laws than in the past. It seems to be a more deliberative body. And it seems there are two reasons for this: the creation of the fiscal session and the newfound relevance of the Republican Party.
Brawner chronicles the decline in the number of laws passed in recent legislative history with his notion that the fiscal session and a two-party balance have led to the restraint.
I’d add that term limits has been a powerful influence, too. Lawmakers are a little more timid in ratcheting up their bill filing in this era when somewhere between 35-45% of the state legislature turns over every session.
You can read more on Brawner’s take at this link.