March 28, 2006

The legislative news line has been pretty quiet now for a while so I thought I'd better get everyone up to date. Just because the news is quiet doesn't mean nothing is happening. At the legislature we've been seeing old friends, making new friends, and working on people who are not our friends yet.

With the helmet law, we had planned to start week before last, then moved that up to last week. Me wimping out and getting sick stopped it cold both times. Bob Edwards left a voice mail telling me I had chosen a hell of a way to get a vacation. I agree, Bob. So, next week, Rep. Davidson, Cindy Davidson and I will meet with Mr. James White, Executive Director of the Fiscal Review Committee. The purpose of that meeting is to reduce the fiscal note, not to zero but to drive it where it should be, a huge positive fiscal impact on the tax revenues of this state.

The next committee stops for the bill be Budget Sub in the House, and Finance, Ways and Means in the Senate. They will meet April 11 and 12 respectfully. In those two committees, we will be sticking close to talking only about the financial impact of the law rather than the justifications for the law as we did in both House and Senate Transportation Committees.

Cindy Davidson will be on the Hill tomorrow gathering up co-sponsors for the Right of Way Bill.

As for me, I'm back, ready to go, maybe not ready for a kick boxing match yet, but nonetheless, anxious to "Get it on."

jp