By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The speed of the special session of the Legislature this spring and the effects of COVID-19 on the regular session suggest that the Legislature could accomplish its work in less time, but Ed Berger doesn't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
"I think we could do it in fewer days," State Senator Ed Berger said. "This was a relatively short legislative session. We adjourned early because of the COVID-19 epidemic. That was on March 19th and didn't come back then until May. I think we could get things done a little quicker."
Berger is still a fan of the legislative process, though, even though most of that was worked around in the special session in the interest of speed.
"You have to have a process that allows complete vetting of legislation," Berger said. "I think that's really an important component of the process. We have to have input from all sides. We have to hear all arguments. Lots of times, even with this thorough vetting process that we have, there are unintended consequences of legislation."
The hope is that the normal deliberative process helps avoid some of those consequences.
"The real work happens in the committee environment," Berger said. "A legislator relies a lot on what happens in those committees. We take that committee recommendation and we challenge that committee with questions from the floor and then come to some kind of resolution."
That's not really how the special session worked. Legislative leadership and the Governor made a deal in advance and pushed it through the process without amendments. Such action makes it difficult for legislators that are not in leadership to get anything they want looked at.