With some tense times on the House floor recently and more tough issues to come, Vermont lawmakers are taking some time out to get some training in proper decorum during debates.
House leaders agreed to Tuesday's session after an evening debate two weeks ago on the budget that was marked by some unorthodox debating tactics.
House Speaker Shap Smith says he wants lawmakers to have a tuneup on proper debating practice with issues like "death-with-dignity" legislation and marijuana decriminalization up for debate in the next few weeks.
House rules say members should not mock one another nor question one another's motives, for example. They also require that when one member wants to question another, he or she do that by addressing questions to the speaker.
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