A week or so ago, I watched in disgust as HB901 went down. I went to bed a few nights later after resigning myself to the fact that SB11 would not make the midnight deadline, and another good bill would once again die on the vine. When I woke up the next morning and saw that the House had been forced to adopt a poison pill amendment in exchange for a vote, I assumed it was nothing more than window dressing to prolong the inevitable.
I would have bet money - a LOT of money - that there was no way a conference committee on one of the bills, much less both, could be put together and finish with anything near enough time to forestall the various filibusters and procedural shenanigans that would surely come our way.
And yet it happened, almost not with a bang but a whimper. I don't know what you and others did, Mr. Cotton, but it was brilliant and it was effective and I personally thank you from the bottom of my heart. It would have been very easy to throw up your hands and walk away, particularly considering how many of our setbacks this session were 100% self-inflicted, but y'all hung in there and got it done.
One day I'd love to hear the juicy behind the scenes details - the "rest of the story", as they say. But today, I simply say, thank you.
A final thought. I understand your disappointment that HB308 once again did not make it to the floor. I agree with you that it will be a far greater victory for carry rights when it finally passes. But it was hugely symbolic to get OC done, and by finally getting that elephant out of the room, I am firmly convinced that the chances for HB308 next session just got a whole lot better, if not inevitable. I hope others will follow me in committing our assistance to getting this done in 2017.