House Speaker Scott Bedke surprised House members today with a dozen original limericks, all strictly within the bounds of House rules, and designed around the formalities of recognizing lawmakers as they present bills. “I started ‘em, and then it turned out that Mary Lou is like a whiz,” Bedke said, referring to Assistant to the Speaker Mary Lou Molitor. “So I gave her the last line, and she’d back into ‘em.”

He added, “So if I gave credit where it’s due, we would all be thanking Mary Lou.”

Bedke said the outbreak of rhyming was prompted by a kick House members have been on in recent days, using flowery oratory when they make their standard request to waive further reading before they begin presenting a bill. “I appreciate that,” Bedke said. “So I felt that as a tension-breaker, I would season my responses today on the floor with that.” He noted that emotions were running high in the House today.

So, this prompts my Legislative Limerick No. 6: Time for sine die?

Who knew the speaker could rhyme

And turn a fine phrase on a dime

But Mary Lou’s skill

Could all be for nil

Unless it is soon quittin’ time.

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