Gonzo Lawmakers - Day 30

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 30

*Originally aired on March 30.

* Crossover day! For the uninitiated, this is the last day a bill can pass one of the chambers and survive. It's a big day and a long night.

* The requisite live shot of the ongoing sausage making.

* Susan is live at Hogwarts! The hospital tax passed the House. Goes to the Senate now.

* Scowly House Clerks! The streak continues! They are extra scowly because they know the incessant drivel will not cease spewing for hours.

* Hot lobbyist walking in the background. Thought they got rid of all of those.

*And on cue, Nwandi talks about Glen Richardson and ethics reform.

* Valarie at Hogwarts talking about the House's ethics bill. They changed the name from the Ethics Commission to something about twelve words long. More evidence of Republicans believing in small government.

* Dubose talking about the all the Democrat amendments being shot down. He's talking about being shut out of the process. The irony meter just broke.

* House passed a bunch of fee increases. How many? Susan says 1800! Perhaps we have a few too many fees.

* Democrats railing against tax increases. Sky is yellow and the sun is blue.

* Seriously. 1800 fees. And they even found time to add a few more!

* I hope tonight's flashback features Denmark Groover climbing over the rail to keep the House clock from striking midnight.

* Sen Judson Hill is back with another weird healthcare bill. He's trying to do a Constitutional end around by requiring state agencies to report any new requirements to the General Assembly before they can be implemented. Surely this can't be Constitutional.

* Democrat Robert Brown is preachin'. "I wonder why President Obama is such a saint in the classroom and a sinner in the hospital room".

* Austin Scott, running for Governor and usually a reasonable guy, has a resolution requiring the Attorney General to file suit against federal healthcare. He's a really good guy, but he gets one of the crazy resolution hairs in an uncomfortable place every session.

* This gives Dubose Porter, also running for Governor, a chance to pounce again.

* Abortion bill in the Senate! This is the one where its illegal for a doctor to perform the operation if he or she has knowledge the woman was coerced. Or if its based on gender or race. You've heard all these arguments before. Safe. Rare. Costly lawsuits. Privacy. It passed.

* Chip Rogers says clearly coercion should be outlawed. Question. How are they defining coercion? And how the hell do you enforce this? Don't the cops already have enough to do?

* Larry O'Neal wants tax reform. So do I. But do you really think a state with 1800 fees is serious about tax reform?

* Steve Thompson is nattering on again. They are arguing over sales tax on internet sales. The Republicans are trying to offer a carrot of some sort to get them to voluntarily collect the tax. Um, okay.

* Susan has to issue a correction about her report about naming of parks. Apparently, private companies don't get to name parks. And I was looking forward to Amia-Coca-cola State Part.

* Project Tom Crawford! Lord have mercy, I didn't think it was possible to combine that many earth tones. He kind of looks like a mud puddle on a dirt road.

* Senate passed a needs based version of the HOPE grant. Of course, there's no funding for this good deed.

* Valarie again. With transportation as usual. It's the smack the DOT board bill. It allows a way to recall DOT board members. And here's Steve Thompson again. He's like a moth to a bug zapper.

* I see a blogger who I shall not name in the background of the shot.

* We're almost at 30 minutes and no flashback. There may be no time for such fancies on crossover day.

* Ricky Bevington and her BOOK OF DOOM! Beach High School in Savannah fired practically every teacher on the campus. And there's Nwandi's hand giving the classic hurry the hell up sign. Ricky flies through some mess about Thurbert Baker.

* Final shot is of the live House Session and Scowly Red is gazing over her domain with lazer eyes. What a way to end the week. Things will calm down again for a while, so for now, that's a wrap!