Sen. Bob Smith wants to bring a little more order to the "world's greatest deliberative body."
The New Hampshire Republican has a plan to put the Senate on a strict five-day workweek and stipulate certain hours for voting so senators can get home for dinner most days of the week.That would be a revolution in a legislative body accustomed to endless debates, hours of inactivity and post-midnight votes.
"The American people have five-day workweeks, and we should, too," said Smith, who heads a quality-of-life task force for the new Republican leadership. Its recommendations will be presented to Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., the incoming majority leader.
Smith said his goals are to bring predictability and efficiency to the Senate, two qualities the chamber has never dreamed of claiming. He said he had discussed his ideas with some 30 senators and some of their spouses, and their response was "overwhelmingly responsive."
Under Smith's plan, senators would have an hour every morning for giving speeches and introducing legislation and two hours would be set aside for committee hearings. There would be no recorded votes after 6 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and after 3 p.m. Friday. Thursday would be the one late night, with votes allowed up to midnight.
The Senate, unlike the House, seldom imposes time limits on debate, and allows filibusters and other parliamentary practices that can tie up legislation for days.