News

Flush with Cash Our state economic prognosticators met last week. It seems their "wet index finger in the air" formula worked. State tax revenue will be higher than they predicted only four months ago. $462 million higher in fiscal years 20/21 ($204M), 21/22 ($165M),...

Forecast This Monday, the Legislature will stand in recess. It's a four-day workweek! Come to think of it; every week is now a four-day workweek. If you believe that state senators have a cozy gig, you're sadly mistaken. During the legislative session, these people...

Scuffle Committees of the Legislature are still grinding through all-day hearings on every one of those 684 legislative concoctions. The Judiciary and Revenue Committees are always the busiest. Tuesday morning, Speaker Hilgers will interrupt committee hearings for a...

Whiners The State COVID plan moved from blue to green. Yes, green is a more environmentally sensitive color choice. In virus circles, green means the maximum indoor warm body count jumps from 75% of capacity to 100%. Local Health Departments must bless gatherings of...

Rules Bill introductions wrapped-up Wednesday, and the fat lady sang, "Hallelujah!". On the first day of the session, Speaker Mike Hilgers, with a nod to the COVID, asked his colleagues to limit their bill requests in hopes of reducing close contact with one another...

Ahhhh The Legislature will not convene tomorrow in observance of MLK Day. Interestingly, two bills that would create new holidays are already on file. Juneteenth would replace Arbor Day as a state holiday, and May 19 would become El-Hajj Malik Shabazz, Malcolm X Day....

The kids are back! Forty-nine senators, dressed in their Sunday best, gathered Wednesday for the 107th Legislature's long (90-day) session. All passed the temperature test, most wore face coverings, and plexiglass partitions erected the last session stifled the mood....