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Josephs, King bill to eliminate lame duck sessions voted out of committee

HARRISBURG, April 8 – State Reps. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., and Chris King, D-Bucks, announced that legislation they introduced was voted out of the State Government Committee today.

The bill (H.B. 1652) would change the state constitution so that the end of the two-year legislative session would fall before the November general election, thereby eliminating "lame-duck" sessions.

Currently, the legislative session expires on Nov. 30 in even-numbered years. Josephs said that the legislation would mandate that the General Assembly could not convene from Election Day in November through Nov. 30 in any even-numbered year.

"There is no doubt that lame-duck sessions can create abuse of the legislative process, and this measure would prevent lawmakers from waiting until that time of year to address controversial issues with the intent of avoiding accountability from their voters," Josephs said.

King said that the bill would block the controversial "sine die" legislative sessions that have allowed some lawmakers to do business even though they were leaving office due to retirement or losing an election. "Sine die" is Latin for "without a day" and is used to describe the final adjournment of the two-year session.

"Lame-duck voting is an antiquated practice that ought to be ended," King said.

The bill would allow for special sessions to be held under certain conditions. Session could also be held with a two-thirds vote of each chamber under the legislation.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration.

Amendments to the state constitution must be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions before being sent to the voters as a referendum for approval.

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