Yes, it took Gov. Tom Wolf and the Legislature more than nine months to put a new state budget in place.
And even then, it came through the back door, with Wolf simply holding his nose and not signing the budget, thus allowing it to go into effect.
All of which makes what happened yesterday in Harrisburg that much more incredible.
There was Wolf, surrounded by lawmakers and citizens, all united behind a piece of common sense legislation.
Pennsylvania is now the 24th state in the nation to allow use of medical marijuana.
First things first. This is now pot that is smoked.
Instead, this is a pill, lotion or ointment that will alleviate debilitating pain for people dealing with serious illnesses such as multiple sclerosis.
You can get all the details here.
Kudos to Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, who represents parts of both Delaware and Montgomery counties. We often have to chuckle at some of the issues pushed by Leach, but he was right on the money with this one.
Leach teamed with a Republican, Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, and worked tirelessly to deliver help for families in need.
The occasion was not lost on Leach.
"Let us pause to reflect on what actually happened here, in this place, because it does not happen often enough," Leach said at Sunday's bill-signing ceremony in Harrisburg. "We stopped being Democrats and started being caregivers. We stopped being Republicans and started being patients. We stopped being liberals and started being problem solvers. We stopped being conservatives and started being compromisers. We stopped being politicians and started being human beings.
"This is what government is supposed to look like."
Yes, it is.
Well done - and well said - senator.
Now about that Liquor Control Board ....
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