Special v. Extraordinary

Not too many people think of special session as very, well... special. To that point our Senate friends posted a handy explanation of just how unspecial these special sessions are.

At least we're not calling it extraordinary session, which is the other phrase that can be used to describe the sessions called by the Governor. The last extraordinary session was in 2003. It was actually an extra-extra-extraordinary session since there were three of them.

The difference appears to be a mere matter of semantics. The Secretary of State uses the phrase "extraordinary session" whereas most of us throw around the more alliterative term,"special session." A quick Google search of special and extraordinary sessions in other states found related phrases such as supplemental session and extra session.

Whatever you call it, legislators involved in budget negotiations are working hard in the hopes of making this a "short session."