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Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Ind. Gov't. - "Conference committees: where bills get 2nd look"
"Conference committees: where bills get 2nd look" is the headline to this story today by Greg Hafkin in the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes:
With the end of the legislative session just a week away, many bills are heading to conference committees, where lawmakers hope to iron out their remaining differences.Two months of debating, voting, amending and moving legislation can come undone after just a few meetings of these committees. Conference committees are allowed to completely rewrite bills, often with little warning beforehand. * * *
These committees arise after the Senate and the House pass different versions of the same bill. If the bill's original sponsor does not want to accept the changes made in the other chamber, he or she can dissent, prompting the appointment of four lawmakers -- two from each chamber -- to the committee.
Bills approved by a conference committee go back before the full House and Senate, where they are subject to a yes or no vote -- no amendments allowed.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 7, 2006 06:13 AM
Posted to Indiana Government