COUNCIL STILL DEBATING LEGISLATION 0056-18 WHICH CLARIFIES THAT SPEAKER ONLY VOTES IN TIE VOTE AND NOT IN 2/3 VOTES. BUT DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE LEADING AMENDMENT FOR SPEAKER TO VOTE IN 2/3 VOTE AND OTHER VOTING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN 2/3 VOTE, SUCH AS BILLS THAT REQUIRE 90 PERCENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP.

DELEGATE TUCHONY SLIM we lobby hard for our legislation and one of my bills, which was emergency, didn’t get to Council cuz of no quorum. And there are many of us that get to meeting and wait and wait and a quorum is never reached.

DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE regarding conflict, we now allow speaker to vote in tie vote and if that is how you are thinking then speaker’s vote in all tie votes would be recognized as conflict of interest. And we are kidding ourselves if we think we can be neutral. There are two sides to an issue that is why we take position, like now we are saying we don’t agree. Now mentioning quorum. But i said speaker is also delegate and he should represent constituents. That is higher calling. And we have quorum problems. We had 21 delegates last night on floor and why? Cuz of money, money. I was here early this morning. and if one more vote needed then speaker there to vote.

DELEGATE AMBER CROTTY i’m not sure why speaker not here to participate in this discussion. when i’m reading in rules for speaker is maintain decorum and we allocate lot of money to speaker’s office and staff and speaker should hold council accountable to be here. issue is how make ourselves accountable. Speaker position is not required. anyone who takes that speaker position understand that their voting is limited. and we are equals otherwise i would have chief of staff, attorney, three assistants. When candidates run for speaker office, there is understanding of what speaker position means. our pple vote us in these positions but i feel like, speaker wants more. if i had staff that speaker has then there is no equity of voting. as one delegate i cannot go up against speaker machine.

DELEGATE DWIGHT WITHERSPOON the language gives speaker opportunity to vote, not that he will exercise such. if 2/3, or 90 percent, he may or may not vote when there are these higher standards of voting.