FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rep. Frank Rasche, D-Paducah, played “My Old Kentucky Home” on his harmonica.

Sen. Dan Kelly, Republican floor leader from Springfield, played “Wildwood Flower” on guitar, the notes drifting from the closed door of his office into the Capitol hallways.

Other legislators milled about the House chamber or in offices or in the hallways, asking what was happening, when would they be able to go home, ending the 60-day biennial regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly. As many as 50 lobbyists gathered on steps to the third floor, and some of them hastily went into the speaker’s offices just off the House chamber.

For the rank and file members of the General Assembly, nothing was happening on the final day of the 2006 session, neither chamber in session while leaders tried to reach compromise on tax relief for small businesses hit by last year’s tax modernization.

At 8:45 p.m. Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, walked into the office of Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green. About 15 minutes, Bobby Sherman, executive director of the Legislative Research, entered, and left again a few minutes later.

“It’s about to get mean,” one lawmaker said as he walked by.

Gross Clay Lindsay, D-Henderson, a member of the House for more than 30 years, laughed and said, “It reminds me of the olden days.”

When Williams left Richards’ office around 9:15, he was asked if the two sides were close to an agreement that would finally bring the session to a close.

“We’re getting close to 12,” Williams said, smiling and referring to midnight when under the provisions of the state constitution the 60th and last day of the session would end – bills passed or not.

At 9:30, Richards entered the House chamber and began small group discussions with four or five lawmakers at a time, walking back and forth. Meanwhile, word spread that an abortion measure was also about to be offered at the last minute.

“Democracy at work,” said a legislative agent for labor groups as he waited at the foot of the stairs to the House chamber.

Hanging in the balance was the judiciary budget to operate the state’s court system, the tax relief bill, another tax incentive measure that would benefit Cabela's, a retail and tourism business, if it locates in Franklin, Magna, an automotive supplier in Warren County, and a call center in Barren County.

Lindsay laughed and recalled the days when lawmakers simply turned off the clock and kept meeting past midnight, often he said, “going till dawn.”

“In the old days, the people of Frankfort flocked up here,”:Lindsay said. “You couldn’t get a seat in the gallery. They came to watch the zoo.”

Rep. Steve Nunn, R-Glasgow, walked over to the press tables, grinned, and said, “It’s Russian roulette and every chamber’s full.”

John Vincent, R-Ashland, an attorney, said the last minute negotiations and brinkmanship reminded him of the night before a big trial.

“A lot of times on a difficult case the night before a trial, you’re sitting there trying to get the case settled,” Vincent said. “That’s what’s going on here. Trying to work out the language and get some important bills worked out and passed.”

As 9:30 began to move to 9:45 and then 10, they still hadn’t worked out the details.



Ronnie Ellis is CNHI News Service Kentucky reporter.