This communique from Del. Albert Pollard, D-Lancaster, in a letter written to his constituents, was passed along Barnie Day, who for some inexplicable quirk of Blogger, was unable to post it to the blog himself.

What is unwritten about the “droopy drawers” bill is that the body was ready to defeat the measure. Its chief patron, Delegate Algie Howell, is a very unassuming and sincere person who, quite frankly, does not hold a firm command of jurisprudence and practical application of legislation. He is simply a neighborhood barber from an African-American community who was elected because of his individual acts of kindness within his community. I believe the body was poised to defeat HB1981. We collectively realized what the rest of the world realized the problematic nature of the bill. However, when the delegate from Chesapeake stood up and railed not only against the bill but also against Delegate Howell, the mood shifted in a palatable way. The delegate’s remarks personally attacked Delegate Howell and broke the rules of the House with such mean-spirited words. It was then that the body passed the bill, not so much because we were enamored with the resolution but because of the overreaction by the delegate from Chesapeake. It is easy to say one would never cast such a vote, but I believe that most people in similar circumstances would do the same. Needless to say, with the international publicity it was wise of the Senate to immediately take up the measure and kill the bill. I can also say in retrospect that given the benefits of hindsight the whole issue would have been dealt with in a different way.