The Constitution requires the state's legislative session to end before midnight on November 30 of even-numbered years. The "lame-duck session" occurs in the period between Election Day and November 30. It's as far away from the next election as incumbents can get. And it's a time when lawmakers who lost or retired can still pass laws - but cannot be held accountable by anyone.

In 2006, for example, in the last hour of the last day of lame-duck session, the legislature passed a law allowing slots gambling parlors to provide unlimited, free alcohol to their patrons. Despite its obvious impact on communities and citizens, there was never a single public hearing about this proposal before it was enacted. No one but the lawmakers, the governor and the gambling interests knew it was going to happen. And one-fourth of the lawmakers were leaving, never to be accountable to the citizens again.

Little wonder that 39 states prohibit lame-duck sessions.

Click below for a letter from DR Co-Founder Tim Potts to the state's media in April, 2006. It provides more background on the problem and why it makes sense to solve it.

Take a break with the Hartman cartoon "Fossil."

Coalition Roadmap Position:

• End session on or before October 1 in even-numbered years. This makes every lawmaker's complete voting record available to his or her constituents before election day.
• Propose an amendment to the Constitution to prohibit lame-duck session.