Lottery gets moving -- UPDATE

Even though House Rules is the only committee permitted to take up business during the House voting calendar, don't expect to run bill in there today if you have something on the agenda. Rules convenes at noon, and there's a special order of business for the Speaker to present the 117-page bill that implements the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. It'll get a Do Pass, and we'll put it to a vote on the floor of the House tomorrow, and the Senate will do the same. We'll hear the Senate bill in committee on Thursday, and since the Senate doesn't convene on Friday, we'll put their identical bill to a vote on the floor of the House on Monday Both bills will be transmitted to the governor's office at that time. I'll post live updates from today's meeting.

Update (11:50 a.m.): Rules starts in 10 minutes, but I'm still running Judiciary and am preparing to bring Rep. Creekmore's bill to a vote that would require the collection of DNA evidence upon the arrest of a person (for five offenses). Jeff Rosenzweig is now speaking against the bill. John Ramsey, the father of JonBenet Ramsey, is speaking next in support the bill.

Update II (12:15 p.m.): Still in Judiciary, and Rules is in progress. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's statement about the lottery bill is on the jump. I believe he'll be speaking in committee.

Update III: Passed unanimously out of committee after 80 minutes.