THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170238
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER MCMENAMIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 58 lines
Lawmakers serve two-year terms. During odd-numbered years, they meet for a long session to develop a two-year budget. They reconvene during even-numbered years for a short budget-adjusting session.
Frustrated by the longest ``short session'' in legislative history, Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight plans to ask for a constitutional amendment to limit the length of General Assembly sessions.
``It's pretty obvious the disagreement level is intolerable for people who serve in the Assembly as well as for citizens affected by the time taken to settle the differences in the budget,'' Basnight, a Manteo Democrat, said in an interview Friday.
``In my 12 years in the Senate, I know that if there's not some constitutionally engraved time to stop us, the inherent feuding would continue.''
Although House Speaker Harold Brubaker, an Asheboro Republican, has not publicly supported Basnight's proposal, aides said Friday that the speaker might propose even ``more forceful action'' than a constitutional amendment. Brubaker, who was on his way home from the Republican National Convention in San Diego, could not be reached for comment.
Thirty-six states have constitutional provisions to tighten legislative sessions. These range from a set number of meeting days to a fixed adjournment date.
Currently, lawmakers serve two-year terms.
During odd-numbered years, they meet for a long session to develop a two-year budget. They reconvene during even-numbered years for a short budget-adjusting session.
But this year's short session, which included a call back by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. to iron out the differences between the House and Senate spending proposals, lasted longer than any previous year.
At a cost of $55,000 a day - for operating and staff costs at the Legislative Building in Raleigh - extended legislative sessions needlessly expends taxpayers' money, Basnight said.
``We used to run the cheapest assembly in America until about five years ago,'' he said. Now, four others spend less than North Carolina.
Basnight said dragged-out sessions also put a strain on the legislators.
``It damages the passion for many to run for re-election and equally damages the recruitment process for getting people to run,'' he said. ``The pool of potential candidates is continually shallowing and it is very difficult to find good people to run for this office.''
Shortening the sessions, he said, ``would obviously ease some pressure of being away from the family and business for those who have to earn a living.''
Basnight will appoint a select study commission to evaluate other states' limitations on legislative sessions.
``There are a lot of questions that must be answered,'' said Norma Ware, general counsel to Basnight. ``If we want to set up limits that are true and meaningful, we don't want to create all these loopholes to get around it.
``It's no good to have limited sessions if you have 14 gazillion special sessions.'' by CNB