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man, one vote” rule. In 1980, he said, “we’ll do ‘one man, one vote’ all over again,” realloting representation on the basis of population changes.
Beard said he’d been fortunate in being named to two of the 13 major committees— finance and agriculture. He noted that the major committees have 20 members while the seven minor committees have 15 members each. Beard said he considered himself to be particularly lucky to serve on the finance committee which considers every tax bill that goes through the General Assembly.
Action on a bill begins at the committee level, he said. When a bill reaches the floor for a First reading, each delegate receives a report on exactly how the vote of committee members split on whether to kill the bill or report it out to the full House. Nothing happens on a bill’s first reading, according to Beard, but at the second reading, it’s patron must explain why he submitted the bill.
If another delegate wants to address a bill. Beard continued, he must first ask the Speaker if the patron will allow him “to speak to the bill." The Speaker then asks the patron for permission. If granted, the other delegate makes his remarks to the Speaker rather than to the bill’s patron. According to Beard, this “very orderly procedure" helps keep tempers under control during debate.
Longer Sessions
Beard said that delegates really “have to hustle" during the morning committee meetings in order to get bills through in time for the morning session that begins at 10 a.m. He reported that Speaker Cooke felt the General Assembly sessions need to be longer than 60 and 30 days since Virginia government was growing so complex. “I believe he's going to be right," said Beard.
Beard played down his importance as a freshman
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