Marathon Floor Sessions

Many of the 2011 session Omnibus Tax and Appropriations bills were taken up on the House and Senate floors this week. Some moved quickly, such as the agriculture bill, while others with more controversy like taxes, required hours of debate, multiple amendments and even more monologues on the most contentious points. The Senate has taken up and passed omnibus K-12 education, higher education, environment, jobs, state government innovations, health and human services, agriculture, and public safety. The House has passed off the floor omnibus environment, K-12 education, higher education, state government finance, taxes, public safety and transportation bills. After days of over six hour debates, both the House and Senate are taking Friday off from floor sessions and will take up the remaining omnibus bills on Monday.