Dear Hecate:
I was really irritated to hear that the Speaker was going to have a an "up or down" vote on the Governor's Casino bill before the House began it's debate on the budget. As I understand it that means the bill will have it's hearing at the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Technical Development, get reported out favorably to House Ways and Means Committe and then get reported out of Ways and Means favorably before it can go to the House Floor for a vote. All in a few weeks.
Now our bill, which by the way, will provide living wages for many more than 30,000 people, has been around for a long time, had it's hearing before the joint committee and was reported favorably to House Ways and Means a month ago. We've had many meetings with the appropriate staff and Members of Ways and Means to brief them on the facts and we have a majority of Reps and Senators committed to vote for us.
I know it's not first come first serve, but please explain.
Irritated
Dear Irritated,
Looks like you're doing your homework, and it is early in a two year session. As for the Governor cutting ahead, there is not much to explain, other than Governors often are granted early consideration as a courtesy.
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.
