http://www.saljournal.com/stories/021203/opi_eddy.html
The tale of a bad bill not read By TOM BELL The Salina Journal -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ THE ISSUE Creationism THE ARGUMENT Legislative process stops bad bill It is easy to complain about the snail's pace in the Kansas Legislature. Sure, some items are placed on the fast track and moved from committee into law in short order. But standard procedure calls for hearings and debate in committee, and then more of the same in the full chamber of the House and Senate. It can make for a painfully slow process. However, there are times when all those brakes serve good purpose. Like when committee members don't read bills in the first place. Consider a measure passed rapidly last week by the Senate Education Committee. Committee chair Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, said the panel gave the bill quick approval after being told it pertained to "academic freedom for teachers." Umbarger said later that evening he learned he had been "handed a hot potato." Indeed. The bill encourages the "full range of scientific views that exist regarding the origins of life," which would allow the teaching of creationism. The bill also would exempt teachers from discipline if they deviate from textbooks, "scientific or historical bias" or any curriculum requirements, thus allowing instructors to teach any darn thing they want without fear of administrators or school boards. After considering the true contents of the bill, Umbarger said the Senate was not the place to debate evolution, and said the Senate would not have time to hold hearings on the measure. That should have been committee members' decision in the first place, but, evidently, this is one that got by them. Never mind that the bill consists of some six paragraphs and takes but a minute to read. The important thing now is that the legislative process worked. Umbarger was warned off the bill and promises to stop it -- before other lawmakers can rubberstamp it without taking time to read it. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
