Dear Hecate:
So I got up there early this morning before the Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Disability Caucus began at 10:00. I had my list of co-sponsors, and I even talked to some of them before they went into the caucus. Apparently they got handed the so-called consolidated amendments and the Chairman of Ways and Means "sort of" read off the key points-- which line items were increased, which were "earmarked" and told them the bottom line had only been increased by $750,000. My Rep at least had taken good notes, so she was able to tell me that our amendment had failed. They didn't get any paper, there was no discussion at all. No debate, no negotiation, no vote. Some "reform process" where all the Reps have access to the making of a consolidated amendment this is. This really stinks!!
Hecate says:
To High Heaven. I can smell it up here. If enough Reps get sick of the smell, get fed up with being disrespected and disregarded, they might get up the guts and gumption to try to reform it back again to a line item by line item debate.
Who is Hecate?
Hecate is a Greek Goddess who served as a guide and coach at the crossroads of Hades, where after crossing the River Styx, Greek souls found themselves facing three choices: the Elysian Fields, abode of the great and heroic; the Fields of Asphodel, for all who had led a blameless but ordinary life; or to Tartarus, a sunless land of punishment for criminals.
Hecate's best known role in Greek mythology was guiding Persephone, the goddess of spring, on her annual journeys between Hades and Earth. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hecate is portrayed as a nurturing and protective guide for Persephone on those annual journeys.
