Boozy celebrations mark (FL) session's wrap-up

[DoYouEverWonder]

May 07, 2006

TALLAHASSEE — Despite a sweeping gift ban law barring lawmakers and their aides from taking food or drinks from lobbyists or their clients, the liquor flowed and the goodwill oozed in the Capitol on the session's ultimate evening Friday.

While stuffing cardboard boxes with pictures and knickknacks as they vacated their legislative offices, aides and their elected bosses swilled booze, scarfed down pizza and bided their time as leaders conducted closed-door meetings to seal a deal addressing the state's property insurance crisis.

The aftermath: a trail of blue and red plastic cups that littered the fourth-floor rotunda bridging the House and Senate chambers, and white foam cups scattered on desktops throughout the House chamber itself.

One floor above the rotunda, House Rules and Calendar Committee Chairman Dudley Goodlette's office was party central.

Goodlette, who is term-limited out of office this year, and his wife served up tenderloin steak sandwiches, shrimp and sausage, washed down with beer and wine, as the moments to the Sine Die hanky-drop ticked down. (Sine Die is Latin for without day, signifying the end of a legislative session.)

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2006/05/07/m17a_xgr_LASTNITE_0507.html

No wonder Bush and chatty Kathy were hanging around with Jeb yesterday. They wanted to go to the big boozer party.

[orwell]

1. Maybe...

...they'll all drink themselves to death.