Another interesting day in Jefferson City.  In addition to two committee hearings (Financial/Gov't Orgs & Elections and Judiciary), I had visits from both Big and Little Tobacco.  Yeah, I wasn't aware (until recently) that there is a Little Tobacco, but it turns out there is.  These are the folks that (for the most part) make discount smokes and (for the most part) did not join the Master Settlement Agreement with the attorney general.

I am not going to bore you with the details of their issues – I'm just starting to comprehend the issues myself.  Needless to say, it was interesting to hear from both sides.

Both my committee hearings were firsts for me.  I've had two Rules/Ethics hearings to date, but these were the first two hearings for these two committees this session.

Not much to report from the first hearing (Fin/Gov't Orgs & Elections).  Notable primarily for the absence of most of the committee members.  Session starts at 4:00 on Monday afternoons.  This hearing was at 2:30.  I come in Sunday nights to get ready for the week, so 2:30 is not a tough one for me, but I suppose those who don't leave until Monday have some trouble making it here in time.  I hope the attendance improves as session progresses.

The judiciary hearings are notorious because this is the only committee that meets at night.  In addition to meeting after dark, Judiciary typically has the greatest number of bills assigned to it and it often hears some of the most controversial issues that face the senate.  Senator Bartle is the chair.

An interesting group of bills came before us tonight.  Child porn, alcohol vaporizers, adult entertainment billboards, legal aid funding, celebratory gun firing, drug sales in parks.  If things continue along this road, we might suggest renaming the committee "Sex, Drugs & Lawyers."  I'm taking nominations for new names.