December 12, 2001

Happy holidays from NCCBI!
As NCCBI's holiday present to you, we gladly pass along the Christmas carol below. Credit for these new lyrics to "The Twelve Days of Christmas" go to our friends at the N.C. Retail Merchants Association.

THE 12 MONTHS OF SESSION
“Ode to Our Legislative Staffers”

In the first month of session Mike Easley came to be 
-- Our Governor for a lottery.

In the second month of session our agenda came to be 
-- Streamlining sales tax
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the third month of session the budget became key
-- We need $800 million
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the fourth month of session the issue came to be 
-- Commission on tax loopholes
-- We need $800 million, 
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the fifth month of session protesters you did see 
-- When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the sixth month of session the budget was still key 
-- Now we’re down a billion
-- When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the seventh month of session still stuck in Raleigh 
-- Families on vacation
-- Now we’re down a billion
-- When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the eighth month of session we worked incessantly
- - Still without a budget
-- Families on vacation,
-- Now we’re down a billion
-- When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the ninth month of session we made history 
-- Longest session ever
-- Still without a budget,
-- Families on vacation,
-- Now we’re down a billion,
--  When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the tenth month of session still at the LOB
- - Trick or treat on Jones Street
-- Longest session ever,
-- Still without a budget,
-- Families on vacation,
-- Now we’re down a billion,
-- When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the eleventh month of session Thanksgiving came to be 
-- Trying to redistrict
-- Trick or treat on Jones Street,
-- Longest session ever,
-- Still without a budget,
-- Families on vacation,
-- Now we’re down a billion,
-- When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery.

In the twelfth month of session around the Christmas tree 
-- They’re still in session?
-- Trying to redistrict,
-- Trick or treat on Jones Street,
-- Longest session ever,
-- Still without a budget,
-- Families on vacation,
-- Now we’re down a billion,
--  When will it end?
-- Commission on tax loopholes,
-- We need $800 million,
-- Streamlining sales tax,
-- And our Governor for a lottery!

Adapted by the N.C. Retail Merchants Association