Phantom of the Bill

Whew! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is? I'm just a bill. Yes, I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. Well, it's a long, long journey To the capital city. It's a long, long wait While I'm sitting in committee, But I know I'll be a law some day At least I hope and pray that I will But today I am still just a bill. Gee, Bill, You certainly have a lot of patience and courage. Well, I got this far. When I started I wasn't even a bill I was just an idea Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed So they called their local Congressman, and he said You're right, there oughta be a law. Then he sat down And wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill Until they decide to make me a law. I'm just a bill Yes I'm only a bill, And I got as far as Capitol Hill. Well, now I'm stuck in committee And I'll sit here and wait While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate Whether they should let me be a law. How I hope and pray that they will, But today I am still just a bill. Listen to those Congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you. Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favorably Otherwise I may die. Die? Yeah, die in committee. Ooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives And they vote on me. If they vote yes, what happens? Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts All over again. Oh no! Oh yes! I'm just a bill Yes, I'm only a bill And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill Well, then I'm off to the White House Where I'll wait in a line With a lot of other bills For the president to sign And if he signs me, then I'll be a law. How I hope and pray that he will, But today I am still just a bill. You mean even if the whole Congress says you Should be a law, the president can still say no? Yes, that's called a veto. If the president vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress And they vote on me again And by that time you're so old ... By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it? No! But how I hope and pray that I will, But today I am still just a bill. He signed you, Bill Now you're a law! Oh yes!!!