marble fever n.— «But for all the learning there is to do on Smith Hill, presumed Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed cautioned the newcomers to avoid so-called “marble fever”—a term for legislators “who get up here and forget about the...
off-ramp n.— «Authors of the initiative recognized the flaw and, during the campaign to pass the measure, agreed to make improvements if it passed. After it passed, Xcel Energy and the initiative backers worked with state legislators to...
juicy committee n.— «The Nigerian coinage, “juicy committee,” is a thinly disguised reference to the abuse of committees by legislators to demand bribes and/or contracts from the ministries, departments or agencies (MDAs) of...
supporter-in-effect n.— «In the lengthening hall of mirrors created by the war in Iraq, friends become enemies. Legislators who voted against the war are called supporters-in-effect when they try to support the troops without supporting...
rat n.— «State officials who are seeking to find pork-filled amendments say they are currently on “rat patrol.” Legislators sometimes disagree whether a bill is a rat or simply represents an effort to help someone who has been...