What's going on?
Whether it be from an editor scrounging for copy or one of my friends in the political world, I've been getting this question a lot as of late:
"So, um, what's going on down there at the General Assembly?"
The implication is this: Hey, it's been a couple weeks since they've gone into session, shouldn't these folks be doing something news worthy.
Patience.
It takes awhile for the General Assembly to lumber to a start. The Senate appointed committees last week, and the House is due to appoint committees this week. The honorables are still working on drafting bills.
Today, a lot of legislators are down at Gov. Hunt's Emerging Issues Forum
There's also the small matter of getting everyone up to speed on the budget (defining just how "bad" is "bad") and making sure the new kids can find their way about and reassigning offices.
And, of course, there's all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes in terms of staff work, legislative bonding, lobbying, etc. ...
Already, there are some signs of life. The GOP is holding their weekly press conference and other legislators are getting us scruffy media types together to pitch various bills. Groups like the state employees and right-to-life Democrats are already planning lobby days.
Look for hard core legislating to start in a week or two.
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