By Bob Katzen

The Senate 6-31, rejected an amendment that would prohibit the Senate from meeting beyond midnight. The amendment would replace the current rule that allows the Senate to meet after midnight if two-thirds of the Senate votes to do so.

“We have moved up the initial committee reporting deadline for legislation and will allow conference committee reporter to be considered for an extra five months,” said amendment sponsor Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy). “These changes should make it unnecessary for a session to extend through the night into the next day. Few good discussions are made by sleep-deprived, overworked minds.”

Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said that during the last few budget debates, no session went past 8 p.m. She noted that it is rare that the Senate meets past midnight.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment prohibiting the Senate from meeting after midnight. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen No