After passing the divisive right-to-work bill in record time, is the legislature looking to leave town early?

Maybe.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, approached GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma about finishing up the short legislative session on March 9 instead of the constitutional deadline of March 14.

But Bosma apparently didn't react well to the suggestion, noting the Senate sent more bills to the House for action than vice versa, and deadlines would have to be moved.

"The Speaker's comments to me were after last year, where there was such a compressed finish, such a flurry of activity and (Legislative Services Agency) was swamped, mistakes were made," Long said. "He doesn't want to push us to the finish line too quickly. There is sense in that.

"If we finish early, it will only be a day or two in my estimation right now, and that's fine."

Lawmakers came to work Jan. 4, meaning the session has 51 business days. But lawmakers don't work many Fridays, enjoyed a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in January and took some days off around the Super Bowl.

To contact Niki Kelly email her at nkelly@jg.net or follow her on Twitter @nkellyatJG.