A Citizen’s Guide

First came Sen. Hollis French.

During a brief floor session Tuesday, French stood and asked Senate President Ben Stevens if he might be excused from his duties between Aug. 11 and Aug. 14.

Stevens didn’t object but noted with a smile that the Senate was not in session then anyway and, by implication, that Hollis would not be missing his duties.

That is, unless the governor called another special session immediately after this one, which ends Thursday, the 10th. Apparently lawmakers are not putting it past him.

Sen. Bettye Davis came next, asking for the whole week off.

Stevens OK’d it, then looked around.

“Everybody’s looking at me like they’re all gonna do the same thing,” he said.

Sen. Lyman Hoffman did do the same thing, and then Sen. Gary Stevens, which leaves 16 senators.