Senate passes Ralph Smith's budget transparency bill
by
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Sen. Ralph Smith finally has a victory in his long-running fight for budget transparency.
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that would require the final version of the state budget bill to be posted on the General Assembly’s website for 48 hours before lawmakers vote on it.
Smith, R-Bedford County, has introduced a similar bill in each of the past five years, only to have the legislation bottled up in committees. This year, Senate Bill 1161 sailed through the Senate Rules Committee last week without a peep of dissent and was passed by the full Senate without opposition.
The bill would require the budget by House and Senate negotiators to be posted online for two days before lawmakers act on it. It is not uncommon for legislators to vote on a budget compromise hours after the document has been printed and before the public has a chance to digest the details.
If the House of Delegates and Gov. Bob McDonnell approve Smith’s bill, the law would be in effect for the 2014 General Assembly session.
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that would require the final version of the state budget bill to be posted on the General Assembly’s website for 48 hours before lawmakers vote on it.
Smith, R-Bedford County, has introduced a similar bill in each of the past five years, only to have the legislation bottled up in committees. This year, Senate Bill 1161 sailed through the Senate Rules Committee last week without a peep of dissent and was passed by the full Senate without opposition.
The bill would require the budget by House and Senate negotiators to be posted online for two days before lawmakers act on it. It is not uncommon for legislators to vote on a budget compromise hours after the document has been printed and before the public has a chance to digest the details.
If the House of Delegates and Gov. Bob McDonnell approve Smith’s bill, the law would be in effect for the 2014 General Assembly session.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
LATEST OBITUARIES
MOST READ
1. Men in werewolf masks robbed Roanoke store Sunday, police say
2. Motorcycle wreck Tuesday sends driver to hospital
3. Sick dog rescued from McAfee Knob trail
4. Franklin County child porn suspect recovering after self-inflicted wound
5. Police identify man wounded in deadly northwest Roanoke shooting earlier this month
6. Roanoker honored with Virginia Big Sister of the Year award
7. Franklin County supervisors vote to add $300,000 to school funding
8. Roanoke County firefighter pleads guilty to firearms charges
9. Virginia Tech baseball not satisfied with just making ACC tournament
10. Virginia Tech police say Saturday purse robbery was false report
THE ROANOKE TIMES
