02/24/2000 01:05 PM House TRA

HB 182 - CHARITABLE GAMING & GAMING ON FERRIES                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HALCRO announced the next order of business as House Bill                                                              
182, "An Act relating to charitable gaming and to gaming on state                                                               
ferries; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HALCRO indicated that he was approached about two hours                                                                
ago by the sponsor of HB 182 [Representative Pete Kott] to move the                                                             
bill out of committee.  However, he personally has an intense                                                                   
dislike for bills being brought up at the last minute, even though                                                              
it's perfectly legitimate under the Uniform Rules.  The sponsor has                                                             
assured him that he has the votes to move the bill out of                                                                       
committee, but that sponsor did not anticipate the absence of two                                                               
committee members.  He asked for discussion amongst the committee                                                               
members on whether or not this bill should be considered for a                                                                  
vote.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 1849                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY indicated that bringing up a held-over bill                                                              
is standard procedure.  It doesn't require a notice.  He intends to                                                             
vote to move the bill out of committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH said he objects to not having enough notice.                                                             
Furthermore, he is willing to leave and believes that one other                                                                 
committee member is willing to leave as well to disrupt the quorum.                                                             
He said, "Nobody approached me about voting for it or bringing it                                                               
out of committee, so I don't feel any obligation to sit here and                                                                
continue to..."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 1907                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked whether it takes four members to move                                                               
a bill out of committee or four "do pass" votes.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HALCRO replied, according to his understanding, a quorum                                                               
of four is needed to conduct business, but a majority of the quorum                                                             
is needed to move legislation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 1926                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked Chairman Halcro whether all of the                                                                  
transportation aspects of the bill have been removed.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HALCRO replied, "Yes."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON replied then that he personally doesn't see                                                               
a reason to hold the bill in committee any longer.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH said he doesn't see a reason to hold the                                                                 
bill in committee either, but he wants the other two members of the                                                             
committee [Representative Masek and Kohring] present before taking                                                              
such action.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 1955                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN stated he is personally opposed to the                                                                   
extension of gambling in the state.  He is willing to leave, along                                                              
with Representative Kookesh, to disrupt the quorum.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HALCRO stated he has some philosophical problems with the                                                              
bill as well.  He reiterated that he doesn't like it when a                                                                     
chairman "drops something on the table" at the last minute.  It is                                                              
unfair.  He announced that he would hold the bill in committee and                                                              
bring it up again at a future date.  He would notify the sponsor of                                                             
his decision.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[HB 182 WAS HELD IN COMMITTEE]