Sine die in June? Just kidding

Earlier this month, the Georgia General Assembly took the unprecedented step of adopting a stretched-out legislative calendar that called for lawmakers to hold session only three days a week through the end of March, recess for at least eight weeks and then re-convene for five days in late June to finalize the state budget.

That was before Congress approved the $787 billion federal stimulus package – including close to $6 billion for Georgia – and before the state had finalized its revenue projections. Now that state budget-writers know roughly how much money they’ve got to work with, there’s really no reason to drag out the session any longer than necessary. Thursday was the 24th legislative day.

According to a little Gold Dome bird – who claims to have seen the soon-to-be-dropped bill – the new end date for the 2009 Legislation session will be no later than Friday, April 3. That would be one day earlier than last year.

Apparently, the leadership hasn’t quite settled on whether to go the full 40 days or try to wrap things up a few days early. If they opt for the latter, the session could be over as early as Wednesday, March 25. I’ll believe that when I see it.

(Photo by Thomas Wheatley)