Who was it that said, "Fasten your safety belts, we're in for a bumpy night?"

    Whomever it was, they got it right as lawmakers round third headed for home….for the holidays with a possible all nighter in the works for Thursday.

    But before they pop their chestnuts on an open fire at home, lots of issues are hanging fire with the legislative clock ticking away.

    Look for them to do something with the expansion of Cobo Hall as there are ever so faint signs that Oakland County executive L. Brooks Patterson will drop his Scrooge-like opposition which clears the way for the Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop to jump on board. 

    Two weeks ago Bishop listed Cobo as a top priority but that was before L. Brookster shouted "no way."  There's even some chatter that if Patterson does not sign off, Bishop might go this one alone, which would be something new for him.

     With the Big Three on the ropes, they need an expansion of Cobo for their auto show.

     The road building lobby would love to begin the holiday season by filling a billion dollar hole in its stocking.  It is pushing hard to change the way the state collects money at the pump and wants to bump the cost of your yearly license plate tabs by about nine bucks.

     Lobbyist Mike Nystrom says, "The door is still open."  But the aforementioned Mr. Bishop has reportedly whispered, "I don't want to put this up for a vote."

     The governor entered the game at the 11^th hour as she finally got off the fence and blessed the new money but all of this may be too little too late.

      And for the 70% of you non smokers out there who would like to breath a little easier in your favorite public place, last ditch talks are also unfolding on the smoking ban but it's prospects are iffy.

     But it will be fun to watch…if you have a broad definition of the word "fun."

     

---

Listen to 350+ music, sports, & news radio stations – including songs for the holidays – FREE while you browse. Start Listening Now!