Inside the Rotunda

Inside the Rotunda: 2020 Session Summary

An Unprecedented Session Are you sick of hearing the word “unprecedented” yet? Because last week the Legislature finished a truly unprecedented (sorry!) end to the 2020 legislative session. The 60-day session was supposed to adjourn by April but instead was put on hold for four months due to the COVID-19

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 16

Finally, seven strange months after this unprecedented session began, the legislature adjourned “sine die” Thursday after completing its 60th day of business. “Sine Die” is a Latin phrase meaning “without day” and is used when a legislative body adjourns without a specific day to return. It’s also used to reference

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 15

With only three legislative days left, we’re finally nearing the end of this year’s drawn-out session. Time is running out, and the pressure is on to see which bills left will pass and which will die. With this added urgency, senators turned to some rules shenanigans to try to get

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 14

Two weeks down, two to go in this strange month-long close to a session put on pause for four months due to the pandemic. Tension remained high among the senators, and when tension is high, progress in the chamber tends to grind to a halt as senators who feel “wronged”

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 13

Your Capitol Fly on the Wall is back (with a mask of course)! It was a very busy first week back, with big policy proposals debated along with a little drama amongst senators. To remind everyone, waaaay back in March, Speaker Scheer decided to postpone the current legislative session due

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 12

Senators Unanimously Pass Covid-19 Emergency Funding  Senators were back in session briefly last week to pass a bill that immediately appropriates $83.6 million in emergency funding to combat the spread of the coronavirus. With little debate, senators voted quickly to pass the funds that will go to the Department of

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 11

Senators Prepare to Pass Emergency Aid Package to Fund Pandemic Response Like many people, this fly on the wall is now home, but don’t fret, I still have plenty of news to share. As you all know, the coronavirus pandemic has affected most aspects of daily life around the world,

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Inside the Rotunda: Week 10

A Buzz-Worthy Week Well, the week ended much differently than it began. Slowly throughout the week, the many events that senators and staff usually attend started to get canceled as a result of the COVID-19 virus. On Tuesday, several senators, staff, and other people who work in the building attended

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