‘Gavel’
courtesy of ‘David Michael Morris’
Today’s DC Register had no mention of a newly scheduled legislative session. As I mentioned Wednesday that means that under normal operating procedure there’s won’t be a session where the council can have the second reading of the gay marriage bill between now and the 28th. They could publish a notice in next Friday’s register for a session with less than 15 days notice “upon good cause found” but it’s hard to imagine what that would be.
As we know, once the mayor signs the bill it has to go to Congress for their 30 day optional meddling period. The rules are that the clock doesn’t tick unless they’re in session. Section 602-10(c) of the Home Rule Act spells it out:
such act shall take effect upon the expiration of the 30-calendar-day period (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any day on which neither House is in session because of an adjournment sine die, a recess of more than three days, or an adjournment of more than three days) beginning on the day such act is transmitted by the Chairman to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate
So being in a big rush to send this off benefits nobody at all, particularly if it opens the door to a legal challenge over whether or not the council followed appropriate procedure and allowed enough time for public comment.
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
