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Motion to reconsider minority committee report fails after heated procedural debate
Summary
Representative Bigelow moved to reconsider the House's adoption of a recently filed minority committee report, arguing the body should 'do the process correctly'; members debated whether sending the report back would unchain the journal record or clarify procedure, and the Speaker ruled the motion failed.
Representative Ron Bigelow asked the House to reconsider its recent adoption of a minority committee report, saying the move was about process rather than outcome.
"Because I believe in our process," Bigelow said, explaining he wanted to ensure committee dissenters had opportunity and the permanent record reflected a correctly processed minority report.
Speakers on both sides offered sustained floor argument. Representative Becker and others urged caution, saying rules committees and staff were already working on an agreed approach and that reopening the issue would create duplicative debate. Representative Christiansen and other critics emphasized that yesterday's vote had proceeded amid confusion and argued rescinding or reconsidering could correct a misleading record.
After extensive debate about parliamentary options and what sending the matter back to committee would accomplish, the Speaker put the motion to a voice vote. The Speaker ruled the motion failed when members answered no; the House did not adopt Bigelow's motion to reconsider.
What happens next: Members said rules staff and the parliamentarian will continue work to clarify how minority reports are handled; the underlying committee report remains on the journal and the House proceeded to other business.
