I Remember Bill . . . .

I always enjoyed the Schoolhouse Rock videos as a child -- especially the story of Bill, and how he "hopes and prays" that someday he will become a law.

Now that I'm grown, I believe Bill should show some signs of wear and tear at the end of his journey. Maybe some foot marks from where he has been kicked backed and forth, and some scrawl marks on him to account for changes and additional language.

Shouldn't some dollar signs be attached? (Oh, that's right. Bill is a measure requiring school buses to stop at railroad crossings, so he doesn't cost anything) Most of the time, Bill would have fiscal notes stapled to his face.

When he gets to the governor, Bill is so crumpled that he is unreadable, and the governor sends him back to be put back into order before signing.

And as events in the West Virginia Legislature unfold this week, maybe I could suggest some other changes to the animation.

Where is the vindictive lawmaker who requires that Bill be read aloud in full because the lawmaker is upset at not getting to make marks on the Bill that came before him?

And where is the presiding officer of the chamber -- the one who wants to be governor and maybe even get to sign Bill himself?

"Congratulations, Bill. Now you're a law."

(For anyone who wants to see the classic video in which Bill becomes law, click at right.)