It’s appropriate that elementary school children roam the halls of the Capitol non-stop during the last week of the Missouri Legislative session. Perhaps they can explain how the passing of notes can stall important legislation.

Early this afternoon, at 1:11 to be exact, Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, gave in to Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, who had been filibustering Goodman’s village law repeal. Callahan says his problem with the legislation is that as configured by the House, it’s unconstitutional because it contains two unrelated provisions, the village law repeal and the regulations of the adult entertainment industry.

So the Senate voted to send the bill to conference. When that happens, the Senate clerk takes a note to the House to explain the action. But in a relatively rare action, the House refused the note. So the Senate discussed it and went into recess to decide what to do. House and Senate officials then conferred and the House agreed to accept the note. So the Senate sent it over and the House agreed to send the bill to conference.

So now, Senate and House members will debate how to finish the bill. Then both houses will have to approve whatever the conferrees come up with.

Expect more notes and recess time in between. Now if I could just find some chocolate milk around here …