Gonzo Lawmakers - Sine Die - Part I

A daily recap of the Georgia Public Broadcasting show "Lawmakers". The show airs weekdays at 7:00pm with a replay at 5:30am the following weekday.

Day 40 - 7:00pm

* This is the end. My only friend - the end. The last day. By now, you've probably heard it was the day the transportation died and maybe some other hideous little fruforals. But we must complete the circle. There's one more episode of Lawmakers to mockingly love. Actually there's two, because the powers that be decided to bring the kids back at 11:00pm to cover the last hour of bloodletting. Thus, the Part I. Part II will cover the second broadcast.

* Senate in session. House out to lunch. I mean dinner.

* Negotiations on transportation funding. Yes, I know it's already happened and that makes this a little weird. So, let's focus on how they cover it. Valarie is quick out of the gate forecasting the thing is about to suffer a hideous death.

* There is a noticeable increase in the number of microphones at every interview session.

* Sen. Mullis is banging away at the podium like a revival preacher.

* Casey fires up the troops to invade the House and twist arms. Valarie says not too many followed through.

* Live Tom Crawford. The budget took two or three hours to print. Somewhere in Brazil another 100 acres of trees just bit the dust. Tom says the business community is not happy with the transportation shenanigans and says Casey has the most to lose politically.

* Some lady behind Tom is scratching in strange places. Now she's mugging for the camera. Someone's been nipping on the flask early.

* Bunch of bills that we've already talked about dozens of times but were being hammered out in conference committee were finally passed.

* Seatbelts in trucks. We're gonna hear more about this in Part II.

* Finally! We hear what will happen with the results of HIV testing of prisoners. It will remain confidential. Some legislator is saying he still didn't understand what the bill accomplished. I would think that would be pretty obvious - the prisoner would know their previously unknown status. I would tell you who asked this weird question but the camera is suddenly showing random shots of the seats. Doesn't matter because Earl Ehrhart says "if you don't like it, vote against it"! SNAP! (It passed)

* Most of the clips are from the Senate. I should have tracked the percentage of House vs. Senate coverage. Maybe next year.

* Weird moment of the day. The bill to dismantle the State Public Defenders Council had no one step forward to present it in the House. For a second, Speaker Richardson looked like an auctioneer looking for a buyer. It was eventually withdrawn.

* Kasim Reed is running for Mayor. Imagine that.

* Intern appreciation moment! With clips! Awesome! Brittany on a scooter! Emily Banks at warp speed! Alan Friedman eating god knows what! Evan Seitz surviving his "boom goes the dynamite" moment! Tiana nearly choking to death! Minoo winking! I'll have more about the kids tomorrow.

* Special edition at 11:00 which through the magic of the internet will be Gonzoed in about 45 minutes.