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The Rules Committee – Capitol Classroom+

There are many procedures and protocols that the Legislature follows to ensure that everything happens in a timely fashion. We have told you about cutoff dates for policy committees, fiscal committees, and for voting off of the Senate or House Floor. One of the committees that we have not discussed yet, but has a profound impact on what bills make it to the House or Senate floor, is the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee does not actually make rules, nor does it follow the same procedures and protocols as the other committees. So, what does it do? Why is it important? Why do we have one? In this 7 minute video, we sat down with the Chair of the House Rules Committee, Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, and Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, to learn all about what actually goes on in this mysterious committee. (Is it even mysterious?)


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