In Olympia, as we have mentioned, committee work has pretty much ended, with the deadline for bills to make it out of committee being last Friday. Now the work of the Legislature moves to caucus rooms and the floors of the state House and Senate, where bills are debated. And to hear 12th district State Senator Brad Hawkins say it, it sounds like a lot of work:
For Hawkins – and every senator, for that matter – it's a very challenging process, with a quick education on every bill that's made it through committee:
Hawkins says he relies on help from the fellow senators in his caucus as well as his staff, but calls it a scramble to at least scan every bill, study the committee votes and briefing papers, as well as constituent feedback to come to a decision on how to vote.