The structural methods used by the Rhode Island General Assembly for proposing and passing laws are chaotic and unprofessional.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union (US), but the legislature proposes more bills than any other state including New York and California. The legislature is the most expensive in the United States.  It is also one of the largest on a per-capita basis except for sparsely populated states such as Alaska.  Perhaps 2,200 bills per year are proposed, but only a few hundred are passed.  As a result, many bills are never even read before voting.  Hundreds more bills are lost somewhere in committees for further study. Continue reading →