6/22/REPORT OF ACTIONS BY LEGISLATURE

[SCF924]

IF ANYTHING THIS SHOWS, IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM START TO FINISH JUST HOW SORRY THE LEGISLATURE IS. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY TO EVEN GET BILLS BROUGHT TO A VOTE . THEY ARE DIFFERED OR SENT TO COMMITTEE OR TO SOME STUDY GROUP. I WONDER WHAT THE % OF BILLS THAT GET VOTED ON THAT ARE PRESENTED EACH YEAR.

[falcon1]

Tennessee's legislature is indeed cumbersome in its operation, probably by design ("No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session"). This is probably true of a lot of state legislatures, and the U.S. Congress (thank goodness--imagine if they passed everything they introduced ). Many times, legislators will introduce bills so they can present to their (uninformed?) constituents that they are "doing something." Also, some of the bills not passed were "duplicates" of those that were. Many others die a well-deserved death in committee.

There's an old saying: "Those who like sausage and respect the law shouldn't watch either one being made."