Republicans have tagged this the "do-nothing legislature."
In a press release late last night, Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger argued that Democratic majorities in the House and Senate "accomplished very little."
"Numerous news accounts have referred to this as the 'do-nothing' legislature because the session was short on significant legislative action," the release said.
From a strictly numerical basis, the legislature did a lot. According to bill drafting director Gerry Cohen on his blog, if the governor signs all the bills on his desk, it would be a 16 percent increase over the laws enacted in the last long session in 2005.
As we've noted before, Berger is likely talking more about the things the legislature didn't do. That includes bills that failed, such an anti-gay marriage amendment, and topics that went unaddressed, such as transportation funding.
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Re: A do-nothing legislature?
... and just how many of this session's bills were resolutions or for local spending on what is arguably "less important" legislation? Maybe a closer look at things would substantiate the "do-nothing" label.
Why should the General Assembly be paid (or given credit for)for passing "legislation" such as this?
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2007&BillID=H1318
No offense intended to those "honored"... but is the General Assembly the proper venue? aren't acknowledgements by local leaders (in the media) enough?