It is over.

Wrap of the session goes quick. Most of the lobbyists head out when the issue they were following either finishes or dies, so by the last day or two things are kind of quiet. The folks that are left get nice again once the arguments are all over.

A lot of maneuvering goes on to establish an agenda for interim work for the various committees. In theory, the interim meetings which are conducted jointly with the committees from both houses provide an opportunity to take a more in depth and less pressured opportunity to delve into a complicated issue. Usually, better work occurs in the interim, but not always. Sources of interim inspiration are those bills that almost made it in the session. Any good idea may take a few tries, but eventually it will get passed. Sometimes bad ideas get weeded out in the process, but my read is that this does not happen as much as it should. Living with a bad law is a worse outcome than waiting a year or two for a good law.

Committee’s decided their interim topics and then request that Management Council approve the agenda and budget. Management Council is the committee that is the business manager for the legislature. Over the years Management Council has increased its influence. For the first several years of my legislative experience, standing committee’s had the freedom to decide their agendas – some feel that this was abused and led to excessive bills. The Labor Committee always is pointed to when this is brought up. I tend to feel that the Management Council approval process has not improved anything much.

The last day of the session is always bitter sweet. Most folks put their differences aside, shake hands and get on with it. There are lots of hugs, even a few tears, especially by and for members that will not be returning. I am losing two great friends from the Senate Rae Lynn Job and Jayne Mockler. I have much respect for these ladies. They are thoughtful, caring, strong and liberty-minded. I will miss them deeply in the Senate, but I look forward to their new lives. Jayne will most assuredly be the next mayor of Cheyenne and Ray Lynn will be moving to Cheyenne to pursue her work in educational consulting and teaching the teachers.

Then it is home to see what folks think. For me this is not too traumatic as I go home every weekend during the session. It is interesting to see what your constituents think of the legislature’s work and most importantly, how you did.

Saturday, the day after the legislature ended, I walked into the Summit Restaurant in Lander. I just made it through the front when a table of folks grabbed me to ask about the Castle bill in Cheyenne. It will be like that for a couple of weeks. I love it.