It’s going to be a long session, but legislators are saying Wednesday that they’re still recovering from last fall’s special session.

 

There was laughing and merrymaking in the halls of the state house, but some described a marked difference in the traditional session opening.

 

After performing the opening ceremony in the Senate, President Thomas V. Mike Miller said January feels different without the traditional nine-month layover that follows most General Assembly sittings.

 

He called the opening “largely ceremonial, because so much heavy lifting was done during the special session.”

 

“I sense a sort of fatigue,” he said.

 

After the few days of pomp and circumstance, though, lawmakers are going to have a full plate of issues: energy regulation, home foreclosures, the death penalty, computer taxes, same sex marriage … you name it. And there could be up to $240 million in new budget cuts.

 

How long do you think the honeymoon will last? What do you think will be the first contentious issue?

 

2 Responses to “Special session fatigue”
 

Same sex marriage is going to be a hot issue. Look for a big fight among those who insist on equal rights for gays, those who still believe homosexuality should be illegal, and a large middle ground who will try to head off the issue by advocating civil unions, as New Hampshire just did.

Congratulations on the new blog, by the way. I’m bookmarking it.

Ed Bibsel wrote on January 10th, 2008 at 7:34 am

 

I don’t have too much sympathy for the reps who had to work extra sessions. They got elected to get the job done–not work by the hour! Their decions will affect Maryland for years to come. Public service is not for sissies!

Little Mama wrote on January 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pm

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