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COUNTERPOINT: A view from a reader

The Resolution of ‘Why?’

Robert A. Doherty Chairman & District 1 Legislator Sullivan County Legislature Monticello
Posted 9/17/21

To the editor:

You may have noticed this Legislature doing something past Legislatures too often avoided or ignored. We’re having meaningful discussions – in public – about …

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COUNTERPOINT: A view from a reader

The Resolution of ‘Why?’

Posted

To the editor:

You may have noticed this Legislature doing something past Legislatures too often avoided or ignored. We’re having meaningful discussions – in public – about important issues.

Some have suggested that it is the duty of the Chairman of the Legislature to discuss resolutions with the entire body before they appear on an agenda, because that’s the way it’s always been done. Maybe I’m new to this, but I must respectfully disagree with such a suggestion.

My primary interest is in engaging in full and frank discussions with my colleagues in public when resolutions appear on the agenda – indeed, to do otherwise would be to conduct public business in private, in violation of the Open Meetings Law.

Clearly the process of bringing any issues before the Legislature involves a member making a motion, another member seconding that motion, followed by discussion. This is the process consistent with the Open Meetings Law, the Rules of the Legislature, and Roberts Rules of Order. Apparently, the accepted practice in the past was to debate issues in private before bringing them to the floor, where votes would be predetermined.

It is common practice amongst all legislative bodies that members will discuss and issue/formulate a resolution among a small subset of the body, or in party caucus, or even one on one. None of us operates in a vacuum, and often a resolution needs to be vetted or refined before it is presented to the body as a whole. Not discussing the matter with all legislators prior to presentation to the body as a whole does not suggest nefarious or corrupt intent, however. Such practice is merely a reflection of the system that has been established and practiced in legislative bodies in this country for over 200 years.

It should be noted that when a resolution is presented to the whole body, each member has at their disposal a variety of tools to insure that resolutions are properly reviewed, debated and considered. And nothing is binding without a majority vote of the body as a whole.

As has been demonstrated many times, presenting a resolution is no guarantee it will pass. More often than not, through the process of debate, resolutions will be amended, tabled, referred back to committee or simply delayed by invoking various rules. Unanimous consent is not the objective of a legislative system – rather, spirited debate in public is the means best calculated to produce the best outcome. People who select their representative deserve to know where each of us stands on issues, not only when seeking votes but throughout our terms in office.

Public discussions provide a great opportunity for everyone to understand all sides of an issue, the thought process of each member, and the vote itself. This process cannot and should not be avoided in order to allow an elected representative to hide their thoughts on a particular issue.

Resolutions aren’t the end of the discussion – they’re the beginning. Let’s start talking!

 

Robert A. Doherty

Chairman & District 1 Legislator

Sullivan County Legislature

Monticello

Comments

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  • lhfc1563

    Then what do you call what was happening a few months ago before you all decided now to talk?

    Saturday, September 18, 2021 Report this