The Legislative Productivity Index, first introduced in 2009, is updated to reflect the 2011 session. And the results show a less productive session than 2010, though better than the 2009 and 2003 sessions, both noted for the marathon struggles over taxes. If the 2011 session is a return to “normal” it does fit in the range showing a continued decline in productivity since the mid 1990s.
Most sessions that rate lower in productivity are influenced primarily by the length of the session. The 2011 session was not inordinately longer than many but it appears there were fewer bills introduced and passed. Indeed, the data shows the number of laws was the lowest since 1985. The 1985 session was 66 days, this year was 88. The chart is being generous to 2011 because it shows total enactments (laws plus resolutions), and that makes it higher than 1992 only because of a larger number of Joint Memorials and other resolutions. The only resolutions that really matter are the Joint Resolutions that are include a constitutional amendment. The others are toothless memorials that have no force and effect of law. So here is a chart showing enactments:
So as mentioned, the 2011 session compares to the 1991 and 1992 sessions for low number of enactments. Those two earlier sessions were when the Senate was tied 21-21 and, due in part to the even partisan divide in that chamber, less than half of introduced bills were enacted. This year 59 percent of bills were enacted.
Finally, it is worth noting that the role of the gubernatorial veto has been virtually no factor in the past two sessions. The chart below includes a weighting factor for legislative productivity taking into account that passed bills should be more important than bills merely introduced. A third (red) line takes into account bills that have been subject to a veto from the Governor. There was only one veto this session so the red line virtually disappears behind the black line in the chart below.
