There’s a lot we like about the idea of shortening Colorado’s legislative session, particularly when it comes to allowing these citizen lawmakers time to go home during the session and confab with constituents.
However, we are not convinced it’s necessary to change the state constitution’s 120-day limit on the session to do so.
Lawmakers could change a couple of rules, employ some self-discipline and end up with essentially the same result.
And they should do so.
State Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, has re-energized the topic with a to ask voters to shorten the legislative session from 120 to 90 days.
Priola wants to start the legislative session a week later than usual, end a week sooner and have a midterm break, according to a Denver Post story by reporter Lynn Bartels.
That sort of change — in particular, the later start date — would require voter approval since the Constitution lays out a different timetable. Sending the question to voters would require two-thirds approval in each chamber.
Yet lawmakers could make scheduling changes to get to nearly the same place. If two-thirds of them are on board with the idea of sending such a question to voters, why wouldn’t they want to take matters into their own hands?
They could fashion a mid-session break. Lawmakers could also — should also — toughen up rules regarding the introduction of late bills, which absorb considerable time during the busiest part of the legislative session and too often are used to spring highly controversial proposals into the mix when they will have less time for public vetting.
It’s not impossible to finish early even under current rules. In 2007, a Democrat-controlled legislature finished five days ahead of schedule.
Priola, a veteran lawmaker, is right on in his aims. State lawmakers certainly could get the people’s work done more quickly and efficiently. And they should have the self-discipline to make it happen.
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