Near the end, work remains

This week I had no new personal legislation to work on, no one from Kootenai County came down to visit or lobby, and there was no single major bill proposal in any of my committees. No controversial, last-minute bill has emerged to be pushed through in the final days.

What all this means is that the 2007 legislative session is winding down. Some issues remain unresolved, and the governor is not happy with the amended version of the grocery tax credit bill, so negotiations proceed. However, even though predicting the final adjournment date is a bit risky, it is safe to say we will finish by March 23. (I think. In my first session, someone started a pool, and the person picking the time closest to final adjournment was the winner. I came in last.)

There is always speculation about the end of the session and the “going home bill.” Most legislators have other jobs and families waiting for them, so it is natural to look forward to returning to one’s home district. In addition, it costs the state about $30,000 each day the Legislature is in session.

Having said all that, we are not done, there is still work to do, and there is the will to remain until our work is completed. Legislators have an individual as well as a collective sense of responsibility to their constituents that keeps them at their task regardless of time pressure. We just get a bit grouchy.

We do have a deadline to meet in order to begin the renovation and the expansion of the Capitol. Contractors have set April 1 as the day they will begin the project, so we must have the Capitol emptied out by then.

The end of the session is always an interesting and unpredictable time, and it should be here soon. See you in Coeur d’Alene next week, I hope.