Senate’s session Thursday night consisted of discussion of one bill which would change proxy rules in the Senate.

A proxy is an individual who acts as a substitute for a senator who could not attend a particular Senate session. 

Bill 17, authored by Senators Lita Waggoner and Robert Pendley, would amend the Senate’s proxy rules, preventing a senator from proxying for another senator. Additionally, the bill would allow proxies to only represent one senator per session. 

During the meeting, Senator Gonzalo Rodriguez voiced concerns about the bill not going far enough and the possibility of separation of powers issues stemming from a member of a different SGA branch proxying for a senator. 

After the meeting, Waggoner, a junior majoring in public health, said the rules already allowed for the possibility that Rodriguez discussed.

“Even if maybe we could’ve expanded the language a little bit more so that other members of SGA couldn’t be violating the separation of powers, I understand that,” she said. “I wish it would’ve gone to the Rules Committee and maybe they would’ve discussed that.”

After a short debate, the bill was passed.

Order of Events:

1.) Jeff Burnstine confirmed as Treasurer. 

2.) Bill 17 “to amend the proxy rules of Senate” introduced, passed.

3.) Committee meetings