More about Conference Committees

Both chambers vote on the "money bills," and the opposite chamber may choose to amend the work of the originating chamber. Committee chairs then present the measures to the originating chamber and recommend whether the bills should be passed as amended or go to conference. If a conference is requested, the chairs of the House and Senate committees appoint three members from each chamber. Usually, the committee includes the chairman. Then, the committee meets to come to an agreement. Sometimes they agree to let the bill die in committee. Conference committees will continue to meet through the weekend to complete work prior to Sine Die, the date the session must end.

 

Significantly, conference committees primarily meet at unannounced times in unpublished locations. From what I understand, the protocol has tremendously changed. Whereas in times past conference committee deliberations were open to the public, now members rarely get a glimpse of the final versions for more than a brief amount of time before we are asked to vote. It is the House Democratic Caucus's position that these committee meetings should be conducted in a manner that will allow the public to observe negotiations and allow all members access.