I’ll take “Positively Procedure for $800...”
The answer is, “Mason, Jefferson and Robert.”
“Who are dead guys with Rules, Alex?”
“Correct!”
I’m no Ken Jennings (the egg-head who won $2.5 million on Jeopardy last year) or Brad Rutter (the Lancaster native who beat Ken in the Tournament of Champions a few weeks ago), and I seldom watch game shows. But it’s good trivia, none-the-less.
You see, Mason’s Manual, Jefferson’s Manual and Robert’s Rules of Order are the three primary sources for parliamentary procedure. The PA House uses Mason’s and Jefferson’s as the primary guides for their rules (no offense to Robert). And in fact, one of the first votes of every legislative session, the PA legislature adopts rules on how it will operate.
To many, the vote on the rules is boring and unimportant. Others, however, see the rules as a roadmap for advocacy efforts. Procedure can be used as a way to defeat or advance an issue. In part, this tactic exemplifies the adage that the legislative process is like sausage – sometimes you just don’t want to see it being made.
Despite these procedural wranglings, what the public may not understand is that no matter how hard a legislator may work to defeat an issue procedurally, once a substantive vote is required to be cast, the same legislator who worked against an issue may vote FOR the issue. Why, some may ask? Quite simply, the vote allows that legislator to go back to constituents and say they “supported” the issue.
In Harrisburg, this is referred to as being “politically astute.” In Vegas, it’s called “hedging your bets.” Others see it as a familiar acronym… “CYA.” But for the Chamber and our more than 9,000 members representing more than 50% of the private workforce, we call a spade a spade – if procedural games are played to delay or avoid a vote on an issue we support, we view it as a vote against jobs.
Complicating matters further, many lawmakers campaign in their districts as pro-business lawmakers, despite efforts to impair business-supported issues. However, the Chamber’s government affairs team serves as the eyes and ears in Harrisburg for the business community. No matter what legislators may say or how they may ultimately vote, we closely watch proceedings in order to identify our friends and enemies on the issues of importance.
So, Mason, Jefferson and even poor Robert, we thank you for your guidance on procedure, and may you rest in peace. But legislators should know that hiding behind procedure may create their own Jeopardy once the Chamber informs constituents of any “procedural” shenanigans on job-friendly issues.
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