Yesterday, reading a report in the paper about all the bills introduced I got the impression the state legislature is a hotbed of activity – so last night at dinner with a state representative I said, It looks like you all have been pretty busy. He frowned, I don’t know where you got that idea – in fact, not a single House committee has met (in three weeks) except the Rules Committee, which passed two ‘resolutions,’ one honoring the NAACP and another honoring someone or something else.

Here are some of the bills that have been introduced.

Rep. Earline Parmon is concerned about liquor – and wants local governments to be able to object to the location of liquor stores.

Senator Kate Dorsett is concerned about manners – and wants bill drafters to use “respectful reference” to people with disabilities.

A whole group of representatives are concerned about the definition of the word ‘ethnic’ – they want to change it so the crime of ‘ethnic intimidation’ will include sexual preference.

Senator Larry Shaw wants to give $50,000 each to victims of North Carolina’s forced sterilization program, during the last century.

And, my personal favorite, Rep. Curtis Blackwood wants to make it illegal to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. (Yes, I thought it was already illegal – but it looks like we’re about to make it illegal again.)

I asked the legislator, Well, if the House isn’t holding committee meetings what are the Democrats doing?

He said, Waiting for the money to arrive from Obama’s stimulus bill – so they can spend it.

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