There’s an old adage: “All gains come in increments, but not all increments are gains.” The Senate rules adopted this morning represent an incremental gain toward a more open budget process.
The new Senate rules did not include a proposal by Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin) to increase from two days to five days the layout period for the conference committee report on the state budget. Both lawmakers and the public would benefit from having an additional 72 hours to review the state’s 1,000-page budget before it comes to the floor for the final vote.
However, the new rules now provide for a 48-hour layout period for the “outside the bounds” resolution, a vital explanatory document that contrasts the final budget agreement with the versions originally approved by the House and the Senate. In the past, this helpful summary of the final budget agreement was not readily available – even to members – until shortly before the final vote; now the side-by-side will be released side-by-side with the actual bill text.
Much work remains to make the legislative process more accessible to the public, especially on matters pertaining to state finances. But true fans still clap when the home team gets a first down.
-James Quintero