Bill Text: GA SR992 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Georgia Senate Resolution 992 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Congress; urged to enact a single-subject rule for federal legislation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-27 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR992 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR992-Enrolled.html

10 LC 94 2087

Senate Resolution 992

By: Senators Hawkins of the 49th, Balfour of the 9th, Hill of the 32nd, Butterworth of the 50th, Cowsert of the 46th and others

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the need for transparency in the federal legislative process and urging the United States Congress to enact a single-subject rule for federal legislation; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, transparency in government is a bedrock principle of representative government; and

WHEREAS, the passage of a bill which affects a multitude of unrelated subjects hides the aims and effects of such a bill; and

WHEREAS, such obfuscation diminishes the public faith in elected representatives and representational democracy in general and shields individual accountability of those who author, advocate, and vote for provisions within such a bill; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has for over a century recognized the danger such practices pose to both good policy and democratic values; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has therefore enacted a single-subject rule that prohibits the passage of any bill that creates or amends two or more unrelated public laws; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Constitution similarly forbids the enactment of any spending provision in any bill other than one dedicated solely to budgetary matters; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the State of Georgia and the several United States look upon a Congress which suffers the evils recognized above but has no single-subject rule and urge its members to consider adopting legislation that prohibits multiple-subject bills and the addition of spending directives in nonbudget bills.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the importance of transparency in the legislative process at both the state and federal levels and urge the United States Congress to adopt a single-subject rule for legislation similar to Georgia's.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to each member of the Georgia Congressional Delegation.