At the end of each General Assembly, the legislature enters what most politicos call “Lame Duck” a chaotic slew of committee meetings and voting sessions where legislators rush to pass or stall legislation before the end of the year.

The term “Lame Duck”, as it refers to American politics, was first coined in 1863 in an issue of Congressional Globe. The term compares either legislation that fails to pass or elected officials in their final term to a lame duck, unable to take flight with the rest of its flock.

During this time, legislators scramble to pass their flagship bills, often combining them into bloated conglomerates called “Christmas Tree Bills” in an effort to pass as much legislation as possible, and to avoid having to restart the legislative process in the new year. 12/11/2024