I'm sure, if you follow the goings-on at the Statehouse, you've heard of him.

He's an interesting fellow, a bit of an enigma. You need a stalled bill to move, he's your man.

He is popular and despised, useful and denigrated, depending on whether he's working for or against you.

You see, Bob's job is to attach pieces of legislation, via amendments. He can bring together pieces of legislation as varied as night and day. Want a culinary arts program to join legislation for statewide capital investment? No problem. Want to keep gay people from marrying and prevent state agencies from hiring lobbyists? Piece of cake.

Unfortunately, Bob has taken it on the chin in the past few months. Powerful people, such as Gov. Mark Sanford and Senate President Pro Tem Glen McConnell, R-Charleston, have called him out repeatedly.

When Sanford vetoed the Life Sciences Act, an economic development bill that included more than 20 pieces of loosely connected legislation, who got the blame?

Bob Tail, of course.

When McConnell fought off a primary seat belt bill for six weeks, stalling the Senate, who got the rap for sneaking the bill into the chamber?

Once again, Bob Tail.

Finally, Wednesday, just an hour or so after McConnell took the Senate floor to engage in a little Bob bashing, Speaker of the House David Wilkins, R-Greenville, came down from his podium for just the second time this year. He was tired of people bashing Bob one minute and then using him for their own means the next.

"We might pass a bill 124 to nothing, yet one member in the Senate thwarts the will of 169 members," Wilkins said. "So we stand by (Bob Tail). I defend (him). When the Senate changes their rules, when the majority governs over there and they can take up bills like we take up bills, we don't need (him). But while the majority of one rules the Senate, we're going to (work with Bob Tail) and we're going to do this if I have anything to do with it -- it's the only way to operate."

Hey, don't worry about Bob too much. Word out of the Senate is he will be used to help the governor get his controversial income tax reduction plan to the floor for debate. Which, I guess, means Bob will be back in the good graces of Sanford and McConnell. Until next time, anyway.

BLOWING WIND

In all seriousness, the issue of bobtailing bills is bringing the session-long tension between the House and Senate to a boil.

With only two weeks to go, both houses are blaming one another for the legislative gridlock in Columbia.

This came to a head when McConnell took to the floor of the Senate to highlight a bill sent from the House with multiple amendments attached (see Mr. Bob Tail). He pointed out over and over that the bill came from the same people who earlier passed anti-bobtailing legislation.

A few hours later, in the House, Wilkins took to the floor to point out that the Senate has been legislative quicksand this year, a fact that has forced House members to use bobtailing to have bills dealt with. He told members that 64 House bills were sitting on the Senate calendar, with one senator objecting to them.

Under Senate rules, one senator can do a lot to slow down a bill's progress.

Wilkins read off a list of bills, such as tort reform, income tax relief and the ban on same sex marriages. He ended each statement with "Pending in the Senate." Fellow House members quickly joined the chorus.

"And yet today, because of the strong work ethic of this House, today since 10 this morning, you have passed 14 Senate bills and eight House bills," Wilkins said.

Later, McConnell released a list of 45 Senate bills yet to be dealt with by the House. "I hear the winds of war blowing here," he said.

TATTOO YOU

Got ink?

Well, now you can get some. The House and Senate approved a compromise bill Thursday that will bring legalized tattooing back to South Carolina. That's right, no more driving across state lines or getting work done illegally in dingy hotel rooms. Soon there will be a tattoo parlor close to you, providing of course, the governor signs the bill.

The bill bans tattooing for people younger than 18, and requires a parent's permission for those between 18 and 21. It also bans tattooing the face, neck and head.

Here are some tips for those of you who want to get a tattoo when it becomes legal:

-- Never drink before getting a tattoo. You can't lie to your friends about your actions. There will be proof.

-- An ironic sense of humor is great, but not when it comes to tattooing. If you are a big tough guy, getting a daisy on your posterior will not seem as funny to others as it was to you.

-- Remember, when you're 60, that naked lady on your forearm will be hard to explain. My mom learned that the hard way.

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/052304/sta_23column.shtml