In California, many bills die in the legislature without lawmakers publicly voting “no.” Instead, bills are shelved through procedural tactics, leaving little trace of accountability for policy decisions. Of the 2,403 bills that died in the recent two-year session, only 25 failed because of “no” votes.
This lack of transparency has raised concerns about accountability in government, as bills can disappear through various methods such as being placed on the “suspense file” or never brought up for a hearing by committee chairs. Advocates argue that this process goes against the principles of open and accountable government.
While some bills are introduced for political statements or duplicate existing laws, decisions on their fate should be made transparent. The legislative process in California, as in other states, includes negative agenda control tactics where bills are shelved without public debate.
To address these issues, some are calling for a reduction in the number of bills introduced each session to ensure more thorough examination and accountability. Despite efforts to increase transparency, the process of how bills die in the California legislature remains complex and opaque.
Overall, the need for greater transparency and accountability in the legislative process is crucial to ensure that the public trust is maintained in California’s government.
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Photo credit calmatters.org
