Today on our first bill we had a long delay on the pea and lentil
commission while several members of Republican leadership slowed things
down so Senator Cameron could get back to the floor to vote. Senator Davis described how much Senator Cameron appreciated peas and lentils and the lentil commission. Senator
Stegner extolled the virtues of lentils, their fiber and flavor and
protein. The delay was effective enough to get Senator Cameron on
record as voting Aye with the rest of us.
We met early today at 9:30 and so blazed through many bills. Two I was
the floor sponsor for, meaning I was assigned or offered to take the
bill in committee and to present and argue for it to the full Senate. I also asked questions about the $5 Kayak/Rubber Raft Mussel Tax bill
as well. I wish I had voted no. Someone voted no. I don't know who. I
know that the mussels are a threat and that rubber rafts COULD
conceivably carry the young mussels, but it is hugely unlikely,
especially as I remembered how few boats ever leave the state to be
infested where the dangerous invasive mussels actually live. I voted
yes, tugged along in the long roll of yes votes.
The bill was not an ideal solution for raising money to pay for
education, enforcement and inspections of the motorized boats that
are most likely to carry mussels. However Betsy Russell has donned an ugly tie, so the end is near and I suspect we are
getting to the point where more and more imperfect legislation will be
set before us, rushed with the force of time and the daily cost of our
staying here in this building. What $30,000 a day did I recall?