PROVIDENCE, R.I.-- Major overhauls of the rules that govern the Rhode Island General Assembly are rare, but Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, a Democrat, and Deputy Senate Minority Leader Dawson Hodgson have a few suggestions.
Paiva Weed wants to rename the Senate Corporations Committee the "Commerce Committee'' to more accurately reflect its mission, and tweak the rules to make clear that every Senate committee can hold government oversight hearings.
Hodgson has asked the Senate Rules Committee to adopt more systemic changes, including a later starting time, since "most employers cannot accommodate an employee leaving work before 4 p.m.'' A later starting time might also make a General Assembly seat more attractive to high quality private sector candidates for office,'' he suggests.
Under the heading "respect for time of legislators,'' he also suggests the Senate start on time.
"In 2012, the Senate did not start on time once, with an average daily delay of 25.5 minutes. This represents approximately 16.51 lost work hours per Senator,'' he reports.
The Senate Rules Committee has not yet voted.