The House has decided to strip things down to the bone tomorrow. It’s very likely that unless a rep is on the House Ways & Means committee, Finance committee, or the budget negotiating team—that’d be Rep. Kelli Linville (D-42), Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47), and to a lesser degree, Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43)—they won’t be asked to be at the Capitol again until Friday.
“There’s no reason for them to be here if they have no work to do,” said Melinda McCrady, House Democrats spokeswoman.
She said that no “official” decision was made by House Democratic leadership to let people stay away, but at this point in the session it’s common practice for nonessential members to not come in on days they’re not needed. She emphasized, however, that this doesn’t mean negotiations are near closure, and lawmakers leading the negotiations are remaining tight lipped with the press.
Tomorrow, the House Ways & Means committee and the House Finance committee will meet to vote on a few bills recently returned from the Senate, including one to offer businesses with 20 or less employees credit against their B&O tax for every position for which they provide health insurance and another to extend tax incentives for producers of certain biofuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
It’s the “wait” part of the “hurry up and wait” portion of the session, said McCrady.
Republicans might as well not come in until Democrats are ready to vote on a final budget, perhaps next week, for all the good it will do them. They’ve no part in negotiations.
At a Republican press conference they slammed Democrats for the cost of the special session: $18,000 a day, including legislators’ $90 per diem. (Note: an increasing number of lawmakers have decided to opt out of the per diem, so that total is shrinking).
The Senate is sticking around tomorrow, although they adjourned earlier this afternoon, said Jeff Reading, spokesman for the Senate Democrats.
Estimates on when the special session will end vary, and seem to breach at the party line. Rep. Lynn Kessler (D-24), House Majority leader, said she hopes to be out of here by Sunday. Rep. Richard Debolt, House Republican leader, said during the press conference that his caucus is looking at midway through next week.
“Do you have a crystal ball?” Rep. Alexander asked. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
