–being some miscellaneous notes not requiring more than a line or two.
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Today is “Dog Days” at the Capitol. Are we the only ones with a sick enough sense of humor to think the serving of hot dogs as part of the event is kind of, well, funny?
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The Senate had advanced a bill shrinking the size of government by eliminating three handsful of advisory boards and watchdog committees mostly populated by House and Senate members. One of the entities getting the axe is the Joint Committe on the Reduction and Reorganization of Programs Within State Government.
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State senate debate twice within the last few days has turned into shouting matches that so violated chamber decorum that the bills being discussed were withdrawn from discussion until the combatants got a grip on themselves or other senators got a grip on them.
The situation became so ugly in one of the incidents that the Senate stopped all activity until the participants could be taken off the floor and, we are told, restrained by other Senators until some level of sanity was resumed.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Senate was a place where grownups served.
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But at least the Senate was working. The House decided attending the Cardinals’ home opening game was more important than doing the public’s business. Instead of coming into session at 4 p.m., give or take, on Monday, the Reps didn’t start their work week until after 7 p.m. after many members had had enough fun at the ole ballpark. When the House did go into session, one resolution was adopted. One bill was taken up and was promptly laid over. The most important thing the House did was take attendance, which entitled members to collect their $104 per diems for the day.
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And, oh, yes, we have a Representative who’s been charged with DWI. Twice in recent weeks.
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This is the time of year when the Capitol is awash with school children. If we are to believe what the lawmakers who represent them say, they are at the Capitol to see their legislature in action and to learn about how government works.