Over the past year, the Legislature has seemed to go into marathon session after marathon session. There have been several sessions lasting nearly 20 hours this year dealing with the various budget gaps. And then there was the water marathon. Thus, we get this from the Bee:
Early - very early - one morning last week, state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod wandered to the back of the ornate Senate chambers and expressed a feeling shared by many of the other people in the room.
"I would rather stick my finger in a light socket," she said, "than spend another hour in here."
The Chino Democrat's observation was colored by the fact that it came at around 3 a.m., during an 18-hour legislative session on overhauling the state's water system. (SacBee)
This just isn't good governance. Ignoring the question of whether the legislators are tired, there is also the fact that actions taken in the middle of the night are far less transparent. Legislators can't get input from stakeholders and the general public at 3 AM. While I understand the dramatic nature of the all-nighter for purposes of forcing compromise, there has to be a better way than something you'd see on collegehumor.com.
And, legislators, take the advice from the "Health Guru." You are probably better off to think ahead and lay off the Ritalin!
