Members can speak for up to five minutes at the beginning and end of a debate on any issue, including amendments under Assembly Rule 108. But that all changed on Aug. 31 when California’s Democratic supermajority moved to reduce the process by 90%.
Minutes before Sacramento hit a chaotic midnight deadline during its final 2023-2024 legislative session, California Democrats rushed to replace a longstanding rule limiting lawmakers’ usual five-minute speech limit to only 30 seconds — per member per bill — sparking outrage among Republicans.
“The actions taken by the majority were an assault on open debate. An assault on democracy,” Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher wrote in a letter addressed to Chairwoman of Assembly Committee on Rules Vice Blanca Pacheco and Vice Chairman Devon Mathis, according to the California Globe.
Members can speak for up to five minutes at the beginning and end of a debate on any issue, including amendments under Assembly Rule 108. But that all changed on Aug. 31 when California’s Democratic supermajority moved to reduce the process by 90%.
Republican legislators argue that this has resulted in an undemocratic decision-making process, where minority opinions are marginalized.
“What happened in the final hours of session was a suppression of meaningful debate,” Gallagher wrote. “The majority rushed through legislation that will have significant impacts on Californians without giving Members the opportunity to fully discuss and debate these bills. This undermines the very essence of our democratic process and disenfranchises the people who elected us to represent them.
“When the majority resorts to such tactics, it not only erodes trust in the legislative process but also silences the voices of those who seek to bring transparency and accountability to our government,” he added.
In a video shared on social media, Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Corona) erupted at his counterpart for refusing to acknowledge his countermotion and called his tactics “dilatory.”
“The California Assembly silenced me and the 500k Californians I represent tonight! They would not let me debate or speak. These people are the enemy of democracy!” Essayli wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The legislative session reportedly ended with several hundred bills advancing to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk with some notable bills related to environmental issues, reparations, and criminal justice reforms to advance the overwhelming Democrat agenda in California.
“When People ask why the Golden State is in decline—why we face multi-billion-dollar budget deficits, a homeless crisis, a collapsing insurance market, and a never-ending crime wave—look no further than how this Legislature operates under one-party rule,” Essayli wrote in an op-ed for Orange County Register. “This is how critical issues are handled and resolved.”
