This is a printer friendly version of an article from
www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose
Print.
Back
Article published Dec 13, 2004
Some pre-filed legislation should be killed in
committee
Among the 223 bills pre-filed in Columbia last week
are some truly bad ideas.They include ill-considered reactions to problems and
government micromanagement.One is a bill that would require underperforming
schools in the state to adopt uniforms for students. The provision would kick in
when a school is rated as below average or unsatisfactory for two consecutive
years.Uniforms may represent a positive development for schools. They may spur
unity within the student body and relieve parents and students of the burdens
and cost of keeping up with fashion. But they won't succeed if they are seen as
a punishment, a badge of shame, forced on the student body by the state for
failing to score well enough on the school's report card.Another bill would
require that every new state office building have twice as many toilets for
women as for men. That may make sense for some departments and not for others.
It's a matter that should be left to architects and agency planners. It is not a
matter for the General Assembly.But micromanagement reaches a new high in a bill
that would force state employees to answer their phones. The bill would prohibit
employees from letting a call go to a purely automated voice mail system if they
are sitting at their desk.The goal of the bill is good. Citizens deserve better
service from state agencies. But that's an issue that should be handled by state
managers, not legislation.Another bill would set a statewide school start date
instead of allowing local districts to choose the calendar that makes the best
sense for their community.These ideas are well-intentioned, but they represent a
step by lawmakers into decisions best left to local officials and state agency
heads. They should not be addressed by new state laws.Lawmakers have enough on
their schedule for the next session. They don't need to borrow problems from
local leaders and agency directors. They should focus on the larger state
problems that need solutions in the state budget and in laws.