Lawmakers aren't accomplishing much in the open these days, but they are furiously working behind closed doors to put the 2018-19 state budget together.
House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger met in a corner office much of Wednesday to hash out final sticking points on the spending plan, such as new work requirements for some Medicaid recipients. The Senate likes that provision, while House budget writers are united against it.
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The only bill to clear either chamber Wednesday was one that would require people filing an asbestos-related lawsuit to first seek compensation from the bankruptcy trusts of former manufacturers before going after a solvent company. The House passed the measure, sending it back to the Senate for final approval.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats rolled out an omnibus school safety bill that they acknowledge is unlikely to get a hearing in the Republicans' haste to speed the session along. The Democrats said they will be happy to use school safety as an issue in the November elections if they can't get a vote on the issue.