And now to lighten the mood, Steve Rossie (channeling his inner Ambrose Bierce) offers what I hope is just the beginning of a “General Assembly Glossary [1].” Snip:
This bill is not ready for prime time.
Real meaning: You really did a HORRIBLE job with this bill! How dare you waste this committee’s time with such a piece of junk? Go back to your office and DO NOT return the rest of session! Alternative meaning: How dare you ask me to vote on this and expose who I really am to my constituents?
This bill is a solution in search of a problem.
Reaction to a bill by committee members who can’t fathom changing whatever the bill is trying change. Alternative meaning: Reaction by committee members suspicious that the patron has statewide ambitions and want to cut him or her down a peg.
Go read the rest, and, for the lobbyists in the audience, suggest a few of your own.