THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 things you didn't know about the Legislature

1: Legislators are said to "author" bills. In reality, new laws are often crafted by corporate lobbyists, special interest groups and government lawyers. Lawmakers sometimes even struggle to explain the complexities of their own bills.

2: Lawmakers sometimes don't cast their own votes. It's not unusual for a fellow lawmaker to lean over and record a vote for a neighbor, who might be out in the hallway talking to lobbyists or constituents.

3: Freebies abound during the legislative session. Lawmakers often find goodies on their desks upon arriving at work, whether it's a toothbrush kit from the dental lobby, a bag of blueberries from farmers or a sapling from conservationists. Most of the freebies are just token gifts, and givers are required to identify themselves.

4: Don't think that ol' U.S. Constitution thing gets in the way of ambitious lawmakers. Legislators frequently introduce bills that run afoul of established constitutional law. If the courts strike them down, so be it. The lawmakers get to tell their constituents they sure as heck tried to outlaw abortion.

5: From breakfast to dinner, the opportunity for a free meal — and a few extra pounds — is abundant during the legislative session. Backrooms adjacent to both chambers are stocked with beverages and snacks, courtesy of the convenience store lobby and other corporate benefactors. The annual grilled peanut butter and jelly giveaway — available to the public as well as lawmakers — might be the most popular gastronomical highlight of the session. Nightly buffets sponsored by local chambers of commerce are put on at the old railroad depot by Underground Atlanta. And then there are free meals paid for by lobbyists at some of Atlanta's fanciest restaurants.

6: Most of the work on legislation occurs in committee meetings. By the time a bill gets to the House or Senate floor, specifics of the bill have already been hammered out. The passionate debate on the floor is for the benefit of the reporters taking notes in the back of the chamber and the constituents back home.

7: The governor and lieutenant governor — two of the most powerful people in state government — cannot introduce bills. They must rely on floor leaders in both chambers to promote their legislative agenda. That doesn't mean they don't have tremendous influence in the lawmaking process. A little arm-twisting can go a long way.

8: You may not know that in addition to their $17,341 annual salary and $7,000 yearly expense accounts, lawmakers are paid a $173 per diem for food and lodging for every day they attend the legislative session or any additional days they spend in committee -- even if they live in the Atlanta area and don’t require lodging.

9: It's not unusual for controversial legislation to be passed quietly in the waning hours of the legislative session. Lawmakers, exhausted from three grueling months of work, are less likely to pay attention — which makes it a great time to slip something past them. It's even possible to take a mundane bill and add something explosive to it at the last minute.

10: The legislative session is far more than just making law. Every day somebody is honored before the General Assembly. It might be the local football team that won the high school championship. It might be the president of the local Rotary Club. It might be a soldier who has fought in Iraq. They get applauded. They get their pictures taken with the lieutenant governor, speaker of the House and other political bigwigs. They sometimes even get their own resolutions. By the end of the session, many hours have been spent on such accolades.

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