The Life of a Bill in the House

1. The Bill is introduced and first read — with much optimism the Freshman Representative steps into the realm of the people determined to control a governmental body considered an out-of-control legislative slum that invited malfeasance and vice.

2. The Bill is second read and referred to a Committee by the Speaker of the House — Now a chance to be heard, in its original form, in what he considers its “proper” perspective.

3. The Bill comes under scrutiny or praise during their public hearings — here along with the public, legislators aspire to enact policy that will help society as a whole, “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer”.

4. After reporting any changes to the Bill the Chairman sends the bill back to the Speaker’s office to be added to the Perfection Calendar — here the Bill will come under fire on the House floor by disagreeing Representatives forcing the sponsor to embody the tradition of leading from the front, not from behind.

5. The Bill is voted pass and now will face its final obstacle to get to the Senate — after being third read the sponsor has so much invested that it might feel like the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

6. The Bill is third read, voted on, and passed — now off to Senate where there is worry that his proposal goes too far and it may be a failure to pass in its first attempt and reach the Governor’s office.