New House rules target disruptions, unneeded ceremony

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Limiting disruptions like cell phones and talking, and ignoring frivolous bills are two of the ways the House Democratic Caucus hopes to streamline the legislative process under a new set of rules.

The new rules were announced and are designed to make the House more professional, said Democratic House Speaker Larry Adair.

"These changes underscore my strong commitment to provide the leadership that will demonstrate to the public that we will conduct the people's business in a responsible and consistent manner,"

Adair, D-Stilwell, said.

One rule eliminates some of the more daring cheerleading routines that often accompany the Oklahoma House's recognition of winning high school athletic teams.

Rep. Russ Roach, D-Tulsa, said some of the routines and long musical numbers needed a timeout.

"I have watched cheerleaders throw people in the air, and this is just not the right atmosphere to do that in," he said.

In fact, resolutions recognizing winning teams, anniversaries, retirements and other similar items will not even be allowed. Those will have to be taken care of in less time-consuming citations.

Talking on cell phones will be banned and their ringers will have to be turned off in the House chambers. Representatives also will be discouraged from leaving the chamber to talk with visitors.

House members also will not be permitted to stand in the aisles and talk while bills are being presented.

Another rule dictates silence during the daily prayer.

But legislators aren't the only targets of new rules. Lobbyists and other individuals will be discouraged from entering the House chamber while it is in session, and are instead urged to deliver their messages to representatives through legislative assistants.

Hoping to cut down on the workload of the House, Adair directed House committee and subcommittee chairmen to disregard bills that have no substantive content. Legislators frequently file shell bills and insert substantial language later.

The only exceptions will be committee bills and appropriations measures authored by the chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Committee.

A committee bill is authored by the chairman of a committee and is used to combine more than one noncontroversial issue into a single bill.