I was sitting in the Senate chamber today and in between much deeper thoughts was wondering why exactly is it that members have to address each other through the Senate president, rather than directly, especially right after asking said president for permission to address another member.

In other words, if Sen. X wants to ask Sen. Y a question about a bill on the floor, he has to pretend he's asking the Senate president the question and that with reflector rays, the president is beaming the question over to the other member.

Just then Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor, got up and asked why was it that they had to so awkwardly ask questions of each other through the president (i.e. the lieutenant governor). He said it wasn't so during his previous stint in the Senate.

This required a brief recess while Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie consulted with Senate Secretary David Gibson.

They came back to say nice try, but that when members ask questions of each other they still have to awkwardly pretend they're talking to the Senate president, and apparently it was done incorrectly in those free-wheeling days when McCormack served previously. I believe it has something to do with affirming civility. But that Sen. McCormack is welcome to take the issue up with the Senate Rules Committee.

He apologized for taking up the time involved in answering the question, then launched in to his questioning of a fellow member, "Mr. President ... "

- Terri Hallenbeck