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TLHR Jan. 19, 2012 Standing Committees.
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Today’s phrase is: Standing Committees.
One of the confusing things about the Legislature is that there seems to be so much going here, going there. Committee this, committee that. It can be hard to track what exactly is going on.
Because legislators want as much info as possible before taking action on a bill, there’s system by which bills go to various Standing Committees for review.
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Here’s Maggie’s 3 Point Synopsis on Standing Committees.
- Bills are complex, new laws can have many unforeseen ramifications.
- It is important that experts look them over.
- Standing Committees ensures that each bill gets a once over by experts in the various areas it may affect.
For instance, if it has to do with money, someone who knows money and how it works inside the state’s system needs to be involved in the process to make sure the numbers tally, to make suggests about where the money will come from, or where it will go to, how it will affect something already in the works. You know, the kinds of things that –say–you might be real smart about, but someone who isn’t in your job or have your training and experience wouldn’t have enough of a clue to even ask about.
Both the Senate and the House have Standing Committees that include:
- Finance,
- Health Education and Social Services,
- Judiciary,
- Labor and Commerce,
- Community and Regional Affairs,
- Resources,
- Rules,
- State Affairs and
- Transportation.
Here’s any easy way to understand the various standing committees in the legislature.
Think of the Iditarod Trial Sled Dog Race…There are check points along the way and rules that mushers must follow in order to get the OK to proceed on. Sometimes, mushers spend a lot of time in a checkpoint, sometimes, it’s a quick zip in and out.
They call them standing committees….but I think of them—and often refer to them—as mandatory committees. Like mandatory check points along the Iditarod Trail.
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Resources:
Click link below to go to the Legislature’s Official non-partisan website. The link will open the page dealing with committees. It lists all House and Senate committees and tells you who is on each.
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/commbr_info.asp?session=27