So imagine, you're watching your state senator debate an important bill and you want to pass on a message to her in the middle of the debate. How do you think that would work out for you?

Well, up until the last legislative session lobbyists were allowed to pass notes to lawmakers to call them off the floor. Then they could have a nice little chat and remind them how to vote. But two years ago the legislature, like a study hall monitor roused from a slumber, banned the passing of notes. Yesterday, the new Republican chair of the Senate Administration Committee, Tommy Williams, refused to lift that restriction despite pressure from lobbyists. Lobbyists can still pass notes in the House.

The Associated Press (via the Chron.com, fifth item) has the story here.

Interestingly, one consumer lobbyist says the note ban puts him at a disadvantage when lining up against people representing utilities and big businesses. Tom "Smitty" Smith, the director of the Texas Chapter of Public Citizen, says that while a well-funded lobbyist can take a lawmaker out for a pricey dinner or round of golf on the eve of an important vote, his best recourse may be to have a quick chat with him or her in the middle of a rapidly changing debate.

“So often you don’t realize what the critical issue is until an hour or so before a vote," he says. "For those of us with little resources this gives us an opportunity to equalize the playing field."

Photo: Passing notes with a 17-year-old by flickr user drcw, used via the Creative Commons license.

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