As they see it.

"Nothing happens until the last two minutes. The last two minutes will decide whether it's a win or a loss."

--Florida Representative Dan Gelber to the St. Petersburg Times about how the 60-day session is a lot like an NBA game.

"I have a little bell alert when a constituent feedback e-mail comes in. My office is like a bell choir since this bill was proposed. It really is monopolizing a lot of my time, responding."

--Pennsylvania Representative Tim Seip to the Associated Press about constituent response to a proposal to impose strict registration requirements on gun owners.

"There are quite of few folks afraid to go to anything. Instead of legislators focusing on what we should be focusing on, we have to worry about who is trying to trip us up."

--Colorado Representative Nancy Todd to the Rocky Mountain News about the new voter-approved amendment there that, in part, bans gifts worth $50 or more to lawmakers, government workers and their families.

"We're seeing the same thing in all age groups and all races. This is an equal opportunity epidemic."

--Robin Hamre, team leader of a national nutrition and obesity prevention program at the Centers for Disease Control, to the Associated Press about obesity in America.

"At the end of the day, what senators really want is the ability for...