Legislation: Proactive lawmaking, not reactive lawmaking (Representatives, polls, leader, state)

[sugarmaple]

I have always believed that legislation is too often created as a reaction to something, not designed proactively. I have always believed that it is imperative, even if it takes a little longer to have a bill passed, to have the bill reviewed, re-reviewed, researched and questioned with all of the "what if" questions...otherwise, too often, something slips through the cracks and then amendments and additional amendments must be crafted and incorporated into the initial legislative bill.

I live in VT and certainly, VT, of late, has been the brunt of lots of talk shows and we all know the O'Reilly has had a field day with us ...however, and O'Reilly is not necessarily on my top ten list of favorites...

Of late, VT legislators reviewed a bill re: sex offender registry and recognized that with all the debates and language within the bill, what was overlooked...an out of state person moving to Vermont was, apparently, not included with the crafting of the bill...requiring those individuals to be forced to sign up in the VT sex offender registry.

This is not the only bill nor is VT the only state where legislators, in my opinion, do not think things through thoroughly which can create enormous difficulties down the road.

I think it is important, no, probably vital for people to go onto their legislative websites, read prospective bills and contact their representatives if they believe something does not make sense, or if something does not seem practical or reasonable or if there is a "what if" missing....

Although I do vote , I was one of those people who would say, hey, I am just one person and who is going to listen to me, or what difference will it make if I say something, or not...well, as we are all becoming more and more involved in "politics" these days, we are all becoming more vocal about the actions, and/or inactions of leaders, our legislators, our judiciary, this is another avenue I believe we must all take...and of late, I am recognizing that in fact, if we approach them, if we write letters to the editor, if we go to a public hearing, we will be listened to...

[AlfredB1979]

Originally Posted by sugarmaple

I have always believed that legislation is too often created as a reaction to something, not designed proactively.

That is unfortunately the trend these days.

When you have otherwise worthless human beings whose job hinges on being liked by as many people possible, then legislation becomes based on polls making the rounds on TV.

Why tick off an out-of-stater moving to Vermont?

That's a vote that could put me back in office for X number more years!

[tinynot]

Also, Legislation: do nothing lawmaking. A year or so ago, the session of, (3 months?)OK legislation was spent
deciding what the state vegetable should be since we didn't have one. I didn't bother to see if indeed one was chosen.