In what seems like a page from the playbook of Barack H. Obama for lack of transparency, a new rule would shut out certain voices from the legislative procedure.
Both Democratic and Republican House leaders supported a rules change to allow only elected lawmakers serve on short-term House study committees starting this session. Previously, state agency personnel or outside experts could serve on panels, which are established by law precisely to take a closer a look at an issue or potential law — such as the current death penalty study commission — before making a recommendation to the entire House.