It's Monday. A slow news day most of the time. After looking at the legislative calendar, it's nice to know we're not the only ones who have a tough time jump-starting the week.

After looking at today's bills, the post Jim Black era is still going strong. The senate's following the house's lead in filing a bill that would cut of the legislative pensions of lawmakers who commit felonies while in office.  The Senate's also going after one of the laws that got Jim Black in trouble. Senate bill 321 would repeal an act that gave chiropractors a break when it comes to insurance co-payments.  You may remember, the former speaker took thousands of dollars in cash from a handful of chiropractors to get the favorable legislation passed.

Two house bills filed today deal with education on different levels. One would provide almost $45 million dollars for Smart Start, the early childhood initiative first started by former Governor Jim Hunt.  House bill 357 would change the social studies curriculum in middle school to include lessons the juvenile justice and adult legal system. The way the bill's worded, it almost looks like an idea right out of "Scared Straight." The idea: Make sure kids know the consequences of their actions in hopes it'll keep them on the right side of the law.

Finally, I'll end with my bill du jour. With all the important issues facing lawmakers, this "issue" is pretty big. Senator Larry Shaw would like the legislative research commission to how to regulate the use of dogs when hunting for deer. Right now, the Wildlife Resources Commission can use its discretion. Shaw wants to know if the General Assembly needs to regulate it by creating statutes.

Let's see: Education Funding v Deer Hunting Dogs, Medicaid Payments v Deer Hunting Dogs. Both close calls, but I'll lean toward the former in both cases. C'mon, let's target issues that really matter. Ready, aim, shoot!