The Judiciary Committee members had been told that Chairman Kathy Stein was going to call SB 40 for a vote. That's the bill that would require abortion providers to show pregnant women their ultrasound, and have them sign a verification form, before performing the abortion. But instead of calling the bill for a vote, Rep. Stein spent an hour explaining why she wasn't going to call another controversial for a vote, the immigration bill proposed by Rep. Bob Damron.

House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, who is a friend of Stein's, said he was offended by the bait and switch tactics and considered it disrespectful to keep committee members tied up when they could have been headed home for Good Friday. Stein apologized and said there had been a last minute decision made to "study" the abortion bill. She didn't rule out bringing up the bill in the future. SB 40's sponsor, Sen. Jack Westwood, said he was disappointed with today's inaction and suggested that House Republicans might try to push a discharge petition to get the bill on to the floor of the House, bypassing a committee vote.

Rep. Kevin Bratcher of Louisville called the meeting the "most bizarre" committee meeting he'd attended in 12 years. He says Stein's liberal agenda is getting in the way of votes on important issues. Stein says the abortion bill is designed to restrict a woman's right to a legal procedure and the immigration bill is a bunch of "bullies" picking on folks who've come hundreds of miles just to make a few bucks for their families.

When asked if committee chairman have too much power to decide which bills get a hearing in the legislature, House Speaker Jody Richards defended the system and the actions of the House committee chairmen, saying they've done the best job he's ever seen during the 2008 session.