Gonzo Lawmakers - Day 32

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 32

Originally aired on March 31, 2010

* The pursuit of real time continues

* It's supposed to be a slow day, so expect a lot of filler.

* The bed tax will be up in the senate tomorrow. Three weeks ago. Whatever. Poor Preston Smith. But more about that later.

* Jerry Keen, who will later announce his retirement, is hoping they pass all the House tax goodies. Strange how through the prism of time travel those events seem conveniently related.

* Democrats are still fighting the combining of the bed tax and the jobs bill. It only takes a majority in the Senate to pass a tax increase? Given how many idiotic things require a super-majority how is this possible?

* More about the Race To The Top silliness. We finished third in the Federal program. Unfortunately, they only pay win and show.

* And there's a Republican defending the attempted sucking of the Federal teat. Imagine that! Charlie Crist did that down in Florida and now might as well be wearing the sackcloth of a leper.

* Scowling House Clerks! The streak continues. But where's Scowly Red? She may have flown off in a rage.

* They expanded the definition of textbook. As silly as it sounds, definitions are often the keys to understanding the silly laws they pass. This will allow school systems to use book funds to by digital reading devices.

* Sen. Don Thomas, the most precious nanny stater in the Senate, wants to make sure pharmacists tell us when they use a generic instead of a brand name. Why? I have no idea.

* Peddlers licenses? How antiquated! It's about the disabled people running the snack bars in government buildings. The one at the Department of Labor was quite a trip. Wonder if he's still around.

* Both House and Senate passed bills banning synthetic marijuana. And I type this on 4-20. The universe has a wicked sense of humor.

* Rep. Billy Mitchell is trying to commend AG Thurbert Baker for his independence. The hair had no comment.

* Lawmakers Flashback! It's early in this episode. 1998 again and we get to see a young, fresh Susan Hoffman. Nice hair-do! She liked to grill the scoundrels all the way back then. She's now talking to Democrat Sonny Perdue. Sonny is blasting the Republicans for being obstructionists. Good times. Good times.

* Susan is thanking the editor for cutting an apparent faux pas she made back in the day.

* Oh, we're getting another flashback later! Now that's filler I can get behind!

* Keocia at Hogwarts following up on her earlier zero tolerance stories. Where's Valerie? Two episode in a row without her. Hmmmm. More about that later.

* They are showing practically an entire committee meeting. Fill, baby, fill!

* Leadership series. It's the House Democratic Whip. They're running out of people to interview.

* Opt out of the Healthcare bill passed out of committee. Shots of people in white coats, of course. Of course if this thing passes, the courts are going to gut it. But don't tell the sponsor. He rates the chances of it standing the test as moderate or better. And these are the people who write your laws. No wonder we're so screwed up.

*Lawmaker Flashback number 2! A younger David Ralston leaving the Senate for his hopeless attempt at Attorney General. He hasn't changed much. Aged quite well. Must be all that mountain air. "Always maintain the Senate position". HAH! Funny now that he's over in the other chamber.

* Nwandi can't resist a jab about maintaining the Senate position.

* Democrats want to make Cesar Chavez birthday a national holiday. Roll out the liberal lions. There's Vincent Fort. And Nan Orrock. Stephanie Benefield must have been stuck in committee.

* Ricky Bevington and her BOOK OF DOOM! Mixed reaction to President Obama's decision to open drilling off the coast. Environmentalists are "sickened". I'm sure they were just vomitous. Savannah is getting its first black police chief. Ricky got a little choked up there. Must be the gag reflex to delivering good news.

* Tomorrow's day promises to be busier, but for now, that's a wrap!