Lawmakers are aiming to wrap up the legislative session Friday, a record five days ahead of schedule.
Slamming down the final gavel at the end of the week instead of next Wednesday would mean a savings of up to $75,000.
It costs taxpayers about $15,000 each day to pay lawmakers their allowance for meals, mileage and lodging.
Ending early also would mean rural lawmakers leasing Denver apartments would not get reimbursed for their last week of rent.
That’s a benefit for taxpayers “and a little inconvenient for rural legislators,” said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver.
The last two sessions finished two days ahead of schedule, but Romanoff said the General Assembly has never completed its work five days ahead of the 120 days allowed by law.
Rep. Al White, R-Winter Park, estimated he would lose about $400 if the legislature ends Friday. “My expenses will continue regardless,” White said.
In the rush to finish, the House and Senate debated into the evening each day this week – knocking out 50 bills on Tuesday alone.
Moods in the stuffy chambers ranged from giddy to impatient.
In the House, representatives were hopping out a large window to catch some fresh air on a second-story balcony. And down the hall, senators were flinging rubber bands at one another during debate.
Others were dragging.
“It’s more like the third trimester of pregnancy,” said House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder.
Some lawmakers were plotting for next session. And for those facing term limits, the realization was setting in that they have only next year to push through priorities.
After that?
“We’re going to Disneyland,” Romanoff joked.
Part of the reason for the possible early finish is that fewer bills were introduced this year – 379 in the House and 263 in the Senate.
The House introduced the second-lowest number of bills in a decade.
And lawmakers were cruising through the remaining bills on their calendar because nothing too controversial is left.
Among the issues left to vote on are regulating mortgage brokers, adding consumer protections in mortgage transactions, regulating online education and moving up the date for precinct caucuses.
The House also has not taken a final vote on a resolution against the escalation of troops in Iraq.
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
