Joe,
I’m told one reason the bill drafting requests have spiked on the Senate side is that President Pro Tem Marc Basnight has decreed that no item will be included in the Senate budget unless it’s been filed first as a separate bill.
If that characterization is accurate, the policy change would combat negative publicity surrounding some little-known budget items. The item that drew the most attention was the school eye-exam requirement supported last year by House Speaker Jim Black.
