By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The state Senate was forced to adjourn Tuesday because there weren't enough senators to get anything done. There was no quorum because virtually none of the senate's Republican members showed up. Now, about 400 senate bills will automatically die because there's not enough time to get them through the entire legislative process. Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley described the episode as "shameful," and several Democrats called Republican lawmakers "cowards" for not performing their duties. Senators are openly denying it, but it seems the trouble stems from a budget battle over education spending.