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By JOHN GOOLRICK
Rappahannock New« Special Writer
Even in the sultry heat of August when dogs lay dormant there were, during one recent, five day period, more than 20 meetings in Richmond or elsewhere of General Assembly committees or study groups.
When the cooler weather of autumn approaches, that number will grow as it always does as the year moves long toward another legislative session.
A quarter century ago when I started covering the General Assembly times were much simpler. The legislature met every other year for 60 days and the only desks legislators had were on the floor of their respective chambers. Much of the state’s business was informally conducted at the Hotel Richmond across the street from the Capitol.
I think, and the feeling is reinforced by many veteran legislative observers, that in the past decade this state has been careening down the road toward the day of a fulltime legislature or reasonable fascimile thereof.
Sometimes when I say that skeptics point out that the citizen-legislature is still alive and healthy. They note it still meets just 60 days in even-numbered years and 30 days in odd-numbered years, though the 30 day session is always extended by two weeks.
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