By Bob Katzen

The Senate 4-34, rejected an amendment that would require a two-thirds vote for the Senate to continue any session beyond 10 p.m. This would be in addition to a current Senate rule that requires a two-thirds vote to continue a session beyond 8 p.m. and a two-thirds vote to continue a session beyond midnight.

Amendment supporters said requiring the two-thirds vote will ensure that late-night sessions between 10 p.m. and midnight when legislators are tired and many citizens are already sleeping do not become the norm but are allowed only when a vast majority of senators favor it.

Amendment opponents said the current rules requiring a two-thirds vote to go beyond 8 p.m. and another two-thirds vote to go beyond midnight are sufficient and argued there is no need to add another layer.

(A “Yes” vote is for requiring a two-thirds vote to go beyond 10 p.m. A “No” vote is against it.)