Q: Since Crossover Day in the state legislature is the last day a bill can be passed in one body and sent over to the other body, how would it have been possible for the House to have passed the tax reform bill after Crossover Day and sent it to the Senate for a vote?
— Chuck Ellet, Dunwoody
A: Legislation passed in 2010 that created the tax reform effort exempted the legislation from the traditional path most bills must take and was not subject to Crossover Day rules. That legislation created the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness, which developed the recommendations for the reform, and the Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure, which was assigned to commit those recommendations into one or several pieces of legislation. The tax reform legislation passed by the joint committee would then go directly to the House floor for an up-or-down vote, without amendment. It does not have to go through the House Rules Committee, which sets the daily calendar. If approved in the House, it would have gone directly to the Senate floor for a vote.
Q: How did Tokyo Disneyland fare during the earthquake and its aftermath?
— Suzanne Sports, Peachtree City
A: Tokyo Disneyland has been closed since last month's earthquake and plans to reopen Friday, park owner Oriental Land Co. Ltd. said in a press release. The company said that some facilities may be temporarily closed for minor earthquake-related repairs and that the parks would close at 6 p.m. as part of its efforts to save power.
Lori Johnston wrote this column; Chris Joyner contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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