At the legislative buffet and house of comedy
I'm not sure if any work is getting done on Jones Street this morning, but the honorables and their various hangers on are in a punchy mood.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee I meeting this morning, a particularly thorny problem in the domestic violence law consumed a majority of the time. Toward the end of the session, the honorables on hand realized they hadn't gotten too far in addressing the problem at hand (violent spouses obtaining and using weapons).
"I think we're going backwards," said Sen. Martin Nesbitt, the committee's chairman.
"But we're making good time," said Sen. Tony Rand, prompting a chuckle from the peanut gallery.
The bill in question, Senate Bill 9, was withdrawn for further technical tinkering.
Next on stage was the Senate Commerce Committee, which was due to hear from a lobbyist for the National Federation for Independent Businesses.
Another lobbyist who shall remain nameless - suffice it to say she works for an un-monied constituency - quipped "Hey Mark, I have a question. When do I get to present my legislative agenda to a committee."
The answer to that question, by the by, is probably never.
Coming up later today: school calendar bill.
Probably not coming as scheduled tomorrow: the smoking bill. (Expect to see it pushed back another week.)