Legislative session limits have been a subject of contention in the N.C. General Assembly for years, but this year's incoming class of lawmakers could give them greater consideration.
Eighty percent of incoming state senators and 48 percent of representatives said they would favor some change in the length of legislative sessions, according to a survey released Monday by The Associated Press.
Forty-seven of 120 incoming House members and half of the 50 incoming senators responded to the survey, which was sent to all members of the General Assembly after the Nov. 5 election.
Under the state constitution, legislators can propose a referendum but not a bill concerning session limits. N.C. residents must directly approve any changes to session length.
Sen. David Hoyle, D-Cleveland, has introduced a bill calling for a referendum every year since 1995. Last year, the bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming majority but failed in the House.
"It really boggled my mind, and I think that (the bill's failure) was a mistake," said Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine, R-New Hanover. "We have to have a deadline. Unfortunately, the General Assembly procrastinates."
The state constitution suggests lengths for the legislative session, but legislators are not required to comply.
Over the past two years, the General Assembly has had historically long sessions. In 2001, legislators met during every calendar month, although they were only scheduled to meet for 180 days. In 2002, the session ran from May to October, shattering the recommended 90-day short session length.
Ballantine argued that if the legislature continues meeting for long periods of time, the average person will not be able to participate in the legislature.
