| The House was is Special Session again, today. The announcement was made yesterday afternoon. But half the members were nowhere to be found. Immediately after the opening prayer & pledge, the house sound was shut off. Several members approached Majority Floor Leader, Jon Echols, beginning with Rep. Earl Sears. Shane Stone, from the democrat Caucus also approached, followed by Emily Virgin. Within a couple minutes today's presiding member, Elise Hall, turned on her microphone and said; "Members, the absence of a quorum is suggested. The clerk will now activate the machine for a quorum call.". The roll was left open for 6 minutes until the 50th member's light turned green. Then Rep. Hall declared that a quorum is present. Immediately MFL Echols adjourned the session until Monday afternoon. Only one resolution was on the agenda for today's session. Perhaps that accounts for the low turnout. One representative told me yesterday that he would not be present, today. He mentioned that it would be his first absence of the special session. Others have missed most or all of the session. With the budget crisis put off for 6 more months, it's questionable why the legislature is still in session. The cost of a day of special session is estimated at $30,000. |  Names in Green are the members who are present. |
This Legislature has only been in office 11 months. Two more members resigned, during this month. Minority Leader Scott Inman abruptly resigned under the shadow of a moral failure, when his wife showed up and made a scene in the rotunda. chairman Scott Biggs resigned without notice, yesterday. He snagged a sweet federal job in the Dept. of Agriculture.
