No amendments allowed on court-power plan
If you blinked this morning, you might have missed the House debate on a constitutional amendment barring Missouri courts from imposing new taxes, licenses or fees.
The measure (HJR41) was on the floor for less than 10 minutes when the presiding officer, House Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, called for closing remarks by the sponsor, Rep. Jane Cunningham.
A boisterous voice vote on the measure followed, with Pratt declaring the “ayes” had prevailed. Pratt’s decision means the amending process is over; another vote will be needed later to send the measure to the Senate.
About 10 Democratic legislators were standing up to offer amendments when Pratt made his surprise move. At the time, only one amendment had been offered. It would have curtailed courts’ ability to deal with Second Amendment questions. It was ruled out of order.
Rep. John Burnett, D-Kansas City, questioned why the Second Amendment change wasn’t allowed. He said there was little difference between trying “to lock the courthouse doors” on funding issues and locking the doors on gun-related litigation.
UPDATE: Pratt called tonight to explain why he ended the debate so quickly.
“Nobody was seeking recognition. There wasn’t a single hand in the air,” he said.
Pratt said he figured the Democrats had decided not to offer their amendments after seeing the fate of the gun amendment.
“I’m fair about this,” Pratt said. “At the end of the day, these folks just weren’t ready.”
They’ll get to take another vote on it when it comes up for third reading — no voice votes, all recorded.
If the majority has the votes to get it done, that’s the way the system works.
Really Jim; “that’s how the system works”?
If this is so great, why the bum’s rush?
Is the system working when half the people are shut out of the process?
I think you would be singing a different tune if the Dems were in control and were doing this to Republicans.
Or in the case of the Democrats you can leave the board open longer than should… so you can guarantee the outcome you want… (Bekki Cook ). Quit being petty this stuff goes both ways.