May
6
Written by:
Mark Lavergne
5/6/2011 7:45 PM
The House chair sustained a point of order against HB 12 moments ago, sending the bill back to committee. This likely means a delay of couple of days before the bill returns to the floor. Martinez-Fischer raised it around 6 p.m. About two hours later it was sustained.
The bill came up at about 3 p.m.. From that moment Democrats began what could be called a new form of “chubbing.” They asked questions at the back mike and spent the maximum allowable time durations talking about proposed amendments. The point of order was called during discussion of the fifth offered amendment. It was the third point of order raised. Before it was sustained, it appeared as though Democrats might spend the entire night conversing for the maximum allowable time on the 59 filed amendments.
Solomons said at the introduction of the bill to the floor that several amendments would be acceptable to him. These include exempting schools and hospitals, and clarifying that the bill does not allow racial profiling (although supporters of the bill have denied that the bill does that anyway).
The committee on State Affairs is set to meet at 9 p.m. to vote HB 12 back out.