It looks like the 2007 legislative session is down to its final two weeks, though one never knows for sure.
The Senate will be taking up the 2008 budget today (yes, they'll be working on a Monday). Then it goes to conference committee.
Some of what's also still to come:
- The energy bills, which will be rolled into one, with their controversial taxes (on Entergy's profits and on setting a way to tax wind turbines). They just might be controversial enough for a veto, if they make it that far.
- The big broadband/cell phone coverage bill, still working its way toward the Senate floor.
- Education funding has gone to conference committee, and it's hard to say what will come out of that, though no one expects huge tax relief to come of it.
- Next Generation money for college scholarships and workforce development. Also working its way toward the Senate floor.
- Instant runoff voting. Who knows if this one will make it through the House. It faces a fairly certain veto if it does.
- Pre-kindergarten. This compromise on how to allow for pre-K programs but not let them expand too much still awaits Senate action.
- Farm "viabilitity." We still don't know if restaurants will be able to serve uninspected poulty or if the legislature will manage to help farmers keep more of the money for their milk.
Those are some. Which legislation are you watching closely? What has to happen for this session to be measured a "success?"
- Terri Hallenbeck
