2:30? Yeah right.
Today's meeting was supposed to start at 1 p.m. An announcement was made that it was postponed until 2:30. Now, the hour of 3 o'clock is upon us, and there are no tangible signs of the JFC getting underway any time soon.
Even though the committee tends to starts late, there are usually members in the hearing room reading budget papers prior to the start of the proceedings. While the occasional Assembly Republican JFC member has popped in today, there is no one in the hearing room now except some staffers, some students, foster parents and kids and lobbyists. Neither of the committee co-chairs has passed through the hearing room yet. Word is they're meeting with Legislative Fiscal Bureau head Bob Lang.
Meanwhile, the members of the gallery grow restless. The lobbyists entertain themselves by making sojourns to Walgreens and Starbucks, and playing the Brickbreaker game on their BlackBerries. Over-caffeination may become a serious threat to order today.
Another sign of the growing restlessness: A county lobbyist whose name will be withheld just walked in the room and sang "I'm a Little Teapot" to his counterparts.
