Getting The Legislature Out In A Jif

By Kleinheider Posted on November 6, 2009 at 3:38 pm

The leaders are working on making the next session a quick one. From the Tennessee Journal:

Speaker Kent Williams (R*-Elizabethton) met with committee chairmen and other House leaders Wednesday to discuss a timetable for shutting down committees.

The goal is to end the session in April or at the latest early May. Of course, early May also was an initial goal in the 2009 session, which ended June 18…

…Crucial to chances for a short session will be the consideration of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s budget. The proposal won’t be pretty. It likely will include layoffs. But unless someone comes up with a better idea, senior lawmakers will want it viewed as Bredesen’s plan rather than theirs and passed early, so they can get back to their districts.

In the House, to speed things along, several rules changes are being considered, including one to cut down on “special presentations” on the House floor — which this year included such things as gospel music performances, recognition of youth sports teams, an appearance by the Mule Day queen, and a cheerleading routine by a high school squad, complete with a girl tossed in the air. Another idea is to limit the number of bills members can file.

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