Like the Myth of Sisyphus*, some bills never seem to get to the very peak, some just run out the clock and die. They just get bounced around from Committee to Committee - and some just waste away at the foot of the calendar like wallflowers and never get called in time...or the Charge of the Light Brigade**
- Food Bank food tax deduction: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB-5886
- Affordable Housing modification: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB-6880
- Roofing, Siding, Windows post-purchase warranties for power tools, too: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB-0821
- Energy proposal for downtown Bridgeport: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB-6304
What bills have passed in one of the chambers so far? Both chambers? Hot links to bills will be read and "processed" later today.
What is our methodology?
CT Senate bills (not acted upon by the other Chamber) passed so far fall into four (4) categories. The longer we get into the Session the more it is clear to me that no bills of consequence will be coming out of this Session.:
Studies (4)
Gambling related (2)
Financial details (1)
Other areas (including special deals for lobbyists and bureaucrats) - eight (8)CT House bills (40 so far) in same four (4) categories (not acted upon by the other Chamber):
Studies (2)
Gambling related - none
Financial details (5)
Other areas (including special deals for lobbyists and bureaucrats) - plus one more for poultry not counted - (30)
UPDATE FROM WEEK OF MAY2-4 SESSION DAYS...coming by the weekend.Which Committees had bills approved most so far? This is a trick question, as bills have a way of morphing from one purpose to another via "strike all and replace" action. Or via amendments - call it a "mule" (intent of original neutered).
And how many bills were sent "to the floor" in total (this is a big job - will take some time)? Ans. More than you ever imagine.
SESSIONS
Legislature "do-sa-do" square dance we referred to elsewhere, done. Re: Biennial Budget going through "negotiations" now...Governor says all bets are off until labor agreement $700 million deductions are made
COMMITTEES: 26 Committees or "Joint Committees" since both House and Senate have co-Chairs. and representation, in alphabetical order below. Who's "busiest?"Examples: 961 + 84 = 1045 "bills" as of May 6; not including count for 4 Committees. For interpretation - the more pages a Committee totals the more bills that may be submitted by lobbyists and individual legislators as well as the Committees themselves plus the Governor - as well as transit from Committee to Committee via the floor.
- HOW MANY BILLS PASSED THE HOUSE? 71 SENATE? 42. Three (3) bills have passed both entities: HB7254, HB7025 and HB6008
- No. of Bills expressed as "pages" in the "bill record book" submitted to each Committee - total pages of print out.
- NOTE: As the Session moves into May/June we will re-examine this research to focus in on any possible indicators for being "called" - only after the Session can we truly test these assumptions.
- No. of Bills "JF'd" or JFS'd" by Committee and this also included judicial nominations and resolutions..
- 27 out of Aging (12 page "bill record book");
- No total JF-JFS number yet during the weekend for Appropriations (45 page "bill record book");
- 23 out of Banking (10 page "bill record book");
- 22 out of Children (9 page "bill record book");
- 33 out of Commerce (15 page "bill record book");
- 55 out of Education (59 page "bill record book");
- 26 out of Energy& Technology (14 page "bill record book");
- 58 bills JF'd out of Environment (48 page "bill record book");
- No total JF-JFS number yet during the weekend for Executive and Legislative Nominations (8 page "bill record book");
- 9 out of Finance, Revenue and Bonding (75 page bill record book)
- 24 out of General Law (29 page "bill record book");
- 50 out of Government Administration and Elections (49 page "bill record book"); 8 HJ or SJ;
- 27 out of Higher Education (14 page "bill record book");
- 15 out of Housing (17 page "bill record book");
- 27 out of Human Services (23 page "bill record book");
- 46 out of Insurance and Real Estate (31 page "bill record book");
- No total (no bills) Internship
- 99 out of Judiciary (79 page "bill record book"); 3 out bills are "HJ" ;
- 31 out of Labor and Public Employees (29 page "bill record book");
- No total JF-JFS number yet during the weekend for Legislative Management (1 page "bill record book");
- 48 out of Planning & Development (45 page "bill record book");
- 69 out of Public Health (68 page "bill record book");
- 24 of of Public Safety and Security (20 page "bill record book");
- No total (no bills) Regulation Review
- 26 out of Transportation including joint resolution (s) for Constitutional amendment for Transportation "Lock Box" and Resolution opposing Federal Railroad Administration bypass thru southeastern CT. (31 page "bill record book");
- 32 out of Veteran's Affairs (23 page "bill record book").
More and deeper analysis of 7 busiest Committees' activity to come...meanwhile:
*
Judiciary gets first prize as most active! Public Health second, Environment third. Education fourth, G.A.E. fifth and P&D sixth. Insurance and Real Estate seventh.
MSW/April 30, 2017; rev. May 6, 2017.
