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By Lyle Hillyard
Senator, District 25

I always get a cold chill whenever I hear talk of a special session. First, a special session must be called by the Governor and the legislature is limited to the items placed on the call. Once we are in the session, we can take no more than 30 days to do the business. There can be some interesting debates on what is covered during the special session. If the Governor places on the call an item of correcting an error made with regards to the immediate effect of a budget item, so that it can be done in this fiscal year (before June 30th), does that mean the whole budget then becomes fair game for modifications?

Second, the call invites the lobbyists and others to descend upon us with requests for “this simple thing” or appropriations that “must be done” or the world, as we know it, will “come to an end”. This year will be especially difficult because many of the agencies are now seeing the impact of the budget cuts as they plan their programs for FY 2010. With the hope that the economy is turning around, as shown by revenues not being below what was projected for this fiscal year, each area will seek more money. I don’t think the good news from the last TC-23 is that we will have more money to spend. I think the good news is that we won’t have to cut anymore for FY 09.

Third, there may even be pressure to raise a tax to avoid the projected cuts for FY 2010 or FY 2011; but that should not happen in a special session where time and public access and information is so limited.

I hope that if we do have a special session on May 20th, we will have the legislation agreed to before the call and it will be technical in nature so we can finish in one day. If we can wait, let’s fix the problems during the first part of the next regular session.

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