The "Silly Season," generally known in the state legislature as the "Lame

Duck" session, is often costly — especially to businesses — and this session appears to be no different. State Sen. Ken Sikkema made a recent media tour warning of the impact of this session, as well as making very public his call for an early revenue estimating conference. Sikkema is adamant about making budget repairs sooner rather than later, believing that the state cannot meet its budget with what he rightly expects to be further declines in revenue. Such is of great concern during the Silly Season because loophole spending is often attached to appropriations bills. While Sikkema travels the state demanding the revenue estimating conference, he shrugs off the Silly Season saying it shouldn't happen, but he is (apparently) unable to stop such amendments even as Senate Majority leader.