29.7 Emergency Bills

Summary:

No non-emergency Bill or amendment shall be tacked onto an emergency Bill.

Proposed Language:

No emergency Appropriation Bill whose purpose is to prevent or mitigate or respond to a loss of life or property or a threat to national security shall be valid if it contains any non-emergency spending authorization.

Commentary:

It is a common practice when an emergency bill is required to help certain of our beleaguered citizens with the consequences of weather and other perils for representatives and senators to tack onto that bill their favorite program, deal or pork barrel project. This amendment will prevent that practice and limit emergency bills to matters related to the emergency.