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‘House sitting on Senate bills’
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Posted on Jun 27 2008
Senate President Pete P. Reyes has complained that the House of Representatives is sitting on bills submitted by Upper House for its action.
Reyes introduced a resolution yesterday asking the House of Representatives to “do the Senate…the courtesy of acting on bills originating from the Senate.”
He said the House of Representatives has entertained exactly two Senate bills since the 16th Legislature took office in January 2008.
“While the Senate has diligently considered many bills originating from the House of Representatives, be they appropriations, revenue bills or otherwise, it appears the House of Representatives has not deigned to reciprocate,” Reyes said.
But House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios said Reyes had no reason to complain. While it is true that the House has considered only two Senate bills, it does not indicate inaction by the House, as only six Senate bills are currently awaiting its approval.
“Two out of six bills is not that bad. We’re at 30 percent. Do you know how many House bills are with the Senate? Twenty-six,” Palacios said.
One of the Senate bills currently with the House is Reyes’ proposal to forbear scholarship payments for returning students who cannot find jobs in the Commonwealth either because the government is not hiring or because a private sector they have applied for is filled by a foreign national worker.
Palacios said the bill is now ready for a vote on the House floor. The House adopted the committee report earlier this week.
Bills introduced in either house of the Legislature must be approved by both houses before they can be sent to the governor for his signature.
