The old adage that lawmaking is like making sausage — you don't want to see how it's done; you just want the end product — is ringing too true at the Capitol this afternoon. After more than three hours of debate, the House on a vote of 121 to 7 passed  Senate File 3683, also known as the "Omnibus agriculture and veterans provisions modification."
 
But don't let the snappy name fool you. Provisions in the bill and amendments debated covered a wide range of issues, including harness racing, biodiesel fuels, ethanol, veteran license plates for motorcycle owners, a plaque honoring Mexican-American veterans from Minnesota and – seriously — animal chiropractic care. Even by omnibus standards, this one got a little unwieldy.
 
At various moments, there were parliamentary inquiries and comments about the concept referred to as "germaneness." At one point, Rep. Mark Olson, a Republican from Big Lake, apparently had enough. "We're too narrow to get anything introduced," Olson said, "and the next minute we're too broad." He could say that again. — G.R. Anderson Jr.