What a week this has been. In trying to finish by Friday, we are rushing through a tremendous amount of legislation and it is difficult to understand why so many bills have been held until the last minute. Perhaps because they shouldn't see the light of day?

Today, for example, we handled a large number of appropriations bills and a bill that would have established a fund for the film industry. Meantime, looming overhead is the governor's veto of the grocery tax credit. Legislators are scratching their heads wondering about starting another bill, cooperating with the governor or overriding his veto. I personally like the governor's tax credit bill and hope that is what we will have in the end. I do not want to vote to override his veto and leave the session without a grocery tax credit.

On Monday we heard the English as the official language bill. I had heard it in committee (State Affairs) and couldn't find any reason to support this legislation. I voted against it on the floor. I believe this is an unnecessary and divisive bill and one that should have been left in the sponsor's briefcase. Unfortunately, it passed with a wide margin.

The good news is that we finally were able to get the attention of the Idaho Lottery Commission and get them to stop using children to market gaming. It's a victory for children in Idaho.

The Democrats learned that Maria Weeg, our executive director, will be leaving us to take a job in Arizona. I will miss her a great deal. She has done a great job and is a good friend.

Tomorrow I will be attending a vigil at Boise State University to protest a racist flyer put out by the BSU Republicans to promote their speaker, Robert Vasquez, a well-known anti-immigration county commissioner.

I had hoped to go to the Marian Pritchett School today with several other legislators, however, due to the length of our session today, we had to cancel. I was very disappointed and hope to go another time. Questions have been raised regarding their funding, so I am anxious to meet with the staff and students.

I think we are winding down. Our wonderful support staff left this afternoon and it was sad to see them go. They are amazing. I marvel at the amount of work they do and the support they provide. We couldn't function without them.

Thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the Idaho Legislature. It is a privilege to serve you and I appreciate it.