Wyoming Constitution: Article 1, Section 2...In their inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, all members of the human race are equal.

 

 

 

 

January 12, 2005

 

Good morning! The first couple of days at the Legislature are all about getting going, the wheels are just beginning to turn.

 

Today brings the joint session of the House and the Senate, where the Governor gives his State of the State address. I am listening to it via the Internet right now! After he is finished disbursing his wisdom to the 90 Legislators, the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court will give his State of the Judiciary address.

 

This afternoon the main Legislative event will be the ongoing task of assigning bills to the various committees, The President in the Senate, and the Speaker in the House, work through the list of bills which have been introduced by individuals and interim committees, and those are routed to one of the standing (permanent) committees in the respective chambers.

 

Yesterday was similar in tone. The legislative session activities began at noon in the House, a little later in the Senate, and all of the newly elected Senators and Representatives were sworn in with an oath of allegiance to the U.S. and State Constitutions. Keep that fact in mind for later examination!

 

Every bill is first sent to a committee for consideration before it can be heard on the floor, so until the bills have been sent to a committee, discussed and passed along, there can be no floor debate.

 

In the Senate the committees consist of 5 members. In a new and unfortunate twist, the composition of most of the committees is 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat. That is a change from the past when the ratio was 3 to 2, the difference due to the fact that the total numbers of Democrats in the Senate declined from 10 to 7. The entire Senate having 30 members.

 

In the 60 member House the committees are comprised of 9 members, with the split being 7 Republicans to 2 Democrats. It is an uphill battle for Democrats!

 

So the legislative train is slowly moving out of the station, picking up speed, and heading down the tracks.

 

Until tomorrow!

 

Keith