Legislatures sometimes speak a different language than real people speak. I'm not talking about English, Spanish, Navajo or any other normal human tongue. I'm talking about a weird code that all statehouse reporters learn to decipher.

Here's a few examples of Legispeak, along with translations.

(Full disclosure: The idea for this and at least one of the items were inspired by a column former reporter Tom Day wrote for this paper more than 25 years ago.)


What they say: "It's been a good debate."

What they mean: "Everyone got to parrot the same tired, predictable partisan talking points for two hours, and nobody actually vomited."



What they say: "The gentleman makes some good arguments."

What they mean: "I'm going to vote the opposite way."



What they say: "It's important that all three committees hear this bill."

What they mean: "It's important to kill this bill."



What they say: "We must respect the committee process."

What they mean: "We're trying to kill your bill. Sit down and shut up."



What they say: "I know the media won't report this ... "

What they mean: "Please, media! Report this!"



What they say: "I've got to talk this over with my constituents."

What they mean: "I've got to talk to the lobbyists/my campaign consultant/my stock broker/my brother, who's running my business while I'm up here for the session."



What they say: "What kind of a message does this send to the children?"

What they mean: "You're suggesting something that allows more personal freedom than I'm comfortable with."



What they say: "We couldn't get to this bill. We just ran out of time."

What they mean: "The leadership put off the bill until the last day because they didn't want it to pass or they didn't care about it."