Floor Debates And Bundled Legislation

UPDATE ON Massachusetts Cultural Council budget amendment #344 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/344/OriginalText

Amendment #344 is classified with other amendments under the policy-centered grouping “Labor and Economic Development“. MALC is hoping it will be bundled into Consolidated “H” and will be up for a vote today, Wednesday, April 27. MALC hopes the funding will stay at $17 million. See MALC’s blog post, “How to Watch the House Budget Debate“:
http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/diya/watch-ma-house-budget-debate/

The image of Massachusetts law makers debating amendments for the House budget beneath the State House’s golden dome might be compelling but isn’t the only reality of the House of Representatives’ budget week. With more than 1,300 amendments having been filed to the House’s Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget proposal, only a few will be debated on the House floor. The rest will be withdrawn, thrown out, or bundled into policy-centered “consolidated amendments”. The consolidated amendments will then be approved by roll call vote.

Long before an amendment is filed, conversations help decide its fate. Lobbyists and constituents pressure legislators to file amendments. For the amendment to become part of the budget, it’s the leadership that gives (or withholds) the blessing to move forward. Members-only meetings (only representatives are allowed in the discussions) are held during the budget debate for House members and leadership to discuss what amendments will be bundled into policy-centered “consolidated amendments”.  Some of the proposed amendments will be revised to have a better chance of being bundled (i.e., wording changed, dollar amount changed).  A green light means a representative’s amendment will land safely in a consolidated amendment/bundled legislation. A red light means you can fight to a floor debate if you want, but you’re probably going to lose.

And that’s why disciplined, coordinated advocacy campaigns are so important. If the only people pushing for an amendment are constituents of the representative who files it, guess what? That amendment doesn’t stand much of a chance. If, however, constituents from across the Commonwealth are pressuring both their representative and members of the leadership to adopt an amendment, then that amendment starts looking pretty good to the House as an institution. The more representatives who co-sponsor or sign on to the amendment the more chance it has to pass.

MALC is proud to advocate for the artists community and creative economy in a state where residents take an interest in what their government is doing and are willing to add their voice to the fight. The House will finish its budget deliberations this week and the Senate will begin debate (and bundling) in May. Stay tuned as we continue to bring you up to date coverage on the state budget process.