A freshman House member moved today for a special House session on Friday to discuss the lottery, but House Speaker Robbie Wills refused to recognize the motion.

Rep. John Burris, R-Harrison, made the motion on the floor during today’s House session. He said later he believes the time has now come, after weeks of work by select groups of legislators, for the House as a whole to discuss the lottery.

Wills said he denied the motion because he does not believe a special session of the entire House is necessary at this time. He said he spoke to freshman House members in detail about the lottery on Monday, and the House Rules Committee and the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs will meet jointly Wednesday for another lottery discussion. Everyone is invited to attend that meeting, he said.

Wednesday’s meeting will be in the Old Supreme Court room at the Capitol upon adjournment of the House and Senate.

A series of bills related to fireworks came before the House Rules Committee today, sparking some jokes by committee members.

The committee endorsed three bills by freshman Rep. John Burris, R-Harrison: House Bill 1146, which would prohibit the sale of fireworks within 50 feet of combustibles and require “no smoking” signs where fireworks are sold; HB 1147, which would extend the application period for public fireworks display permits from two days to five days; and HB 1152, which would allow a fireworks shooter’s licensing period to begin as soon as the application for the license is approved.

“Mr. Burris, would you agree with me that this bill (HB 1152) would probably give the vendors a little more bang for their buck?” asked Rep. Johnny Hoyt, D-Morrilton.

Rep. Greg Reep, D- Warren, questioned whether Burris had been “injured by a firecracker or something when you were young.”

“Firework safety is something that I take very seriously,” said Burris, a teacher.