The Illinois General Assembly usually tries to adjourn by the end of May. That hasn't worked out too well the past few years as partisan bickering, the state's huge budget problems, and the bloody war between former Governor Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan forced months-long overtime sessions.
The last time the legislature truly got out early was in 1999, when then-Senate President Pate Philip demanded they adjourn by April 15. After legislators left town, I didn't know what to do with myself. There were no statewide elections at all the following year, which meant that absolutely nothing was going on in the political world. So, I went to Kosovo to cover the war and then took my daughter on a tour of Europe and went with my dad to Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. It was quite an adventure. Later that year, I went to Cuba during then-Governor George Ryan's official visit. I have fond memories of that year. I actually had a life back then.
This year, though, the calendar says the General Assembly plans to adjourn by May 7. I haven't really experienced a May without grueling work hours since those halcyon days of 1999, so that pleases me. But I'm not holding my breath, because of all the carnage I've seen the past few years. I just can't bring myself to believe.