Kent County Today

State House minority leader Danny Short and minority whip Tim Dukes say taking important votes on legislation at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. on the last day of the legislative session is not good government.

The two Republicans are appealing to all members of the legislature to fix the situation.

“Our system is broken, serving only those who have a vested interest in preserving a process of exclusion,” Short and Dukes told the Cape Gazette. 

Rep. Tim Dukes | Delaware house

Short and Dukes support House Bill 136, which would create a constitutional amendment to end the last legislative day of the session at 7 p.m., except in case of emergencies.

“This law would all but block legislators from passing bills under cover of darkness as their constituents sleep,” Short and Dukes said in the Cape Gazette.

Another remedy they support is HB 135, which would amend the state constitution to create “Delaware Crossover Day.” 

“Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia are among the states with laws mandating that all bills crossing from one legislative chamber to the other must do so well before the end of session,” Short and Dukes said.

 If HB 135 passes, bills from the House or the Senate would have to cross over to the other chamber for consideration at least 10 days before the end of the session.