Legislative Wrap-Up
Why did Vote Smart select this bill?
Every session, each legislature addresses hundreds of issues and votes on thousands of bills. Therefore, when you select your 3 or 4 most important issues, you need to have a reason for why you selected each bill. More importantly, you will need to convey to the reader the reason you selected this bill and why it is important to the voters in that state. There could be a number of different reasons that include, but are not limited to, the following reasons:
- National Trend - The bill follows something that the US Congress has recently addressed. Example: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Use only if you find that the legislation is a response to a national bill or is following a national trend.
- Regional Trend - The bill is similar to one that another, close-by state has passed. Example: Prohibits implementation of the common core, Expanding Medicaid, etc.
- Recent Local Issue - The bill might address a recent current event. Example: Explosion in West, Texas could spur legislation related to fire codes. NOTE: DO NOT make the leap to suggest that a bill is certainly tied to a recent event. Instead, try to find a quote from a governor/rep/sen that makes the connection explicit.
- Agenda/Priority Issue - Sometimes the legislative leaders of a state might have a priority item going into a session and these issues tend to pick up more than the usual amount of press coverage. You may consider using the governor's State of the State address.
- National Attention - The bill draws a national audience. Example: Arizona Immigration Bill; Texas Abortion Bill
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