Brainstorming, in a way -- what to do with committees on Capitol Hill.
Keep them, have them . . . but, reduce the in-meeting participation of each such committee to three. One of the three is charged with finding everything that speaks in favor of a bill, another with finding everything that speaks against a bill, and the third member charged with talking both sides and boiling them down with conciseness to give to the whole of the legislative body.
In the committee meeting, the two on each side of the question would speak. Then, the public would be invited to comment.
The committee member charged with combining the information would then take it and present it to the full body of legislators. Should a member of the public feel something was overlooked, or not be receiving adequate play, he or she could then appeal to the speaker of the house or the senate president. And, should the leader of that house agree, then he or she could either address the full body him or herself with the information, or give the floor to the public member to address the issue him or herself.
Such an organization of the committee work would help ensure that both sides of the issue receive attention. As is, if no one shows to speak to one side, that side of the question might not even be considered.
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