Lawmakers have more to worry about than what to call a dead tree

What do you call that big tree we adorn with decorations each year? The one with presents beneath it? Apparently it depends on whether you are a democrat or a republican. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has declared the evergreen that will be on display in the Capitol Rotunda this year is a holiday tree. That isn’t sitting well with the Keep Christ in Christmas crowd. State Rep. Scott Krug is planning to introduce a resolution in the Legislature seeking to name what Evers calls a holiday tree a Christmas tree. This is hardly a new debate. When Scott Walker was elected Governor, he called the evergreen a Christmas tree. It had been dubbed a holiday tree since 1985. So back and forth we go. Who cares? And what does it matter? Call it whatever you want. But this debate is a complete waste of time and energy. The author of the resolution calling for it to be called a Christmas tree is giving his fellow lawmakers until Friday to sign on to the legislation. But the final day of debate in this session of the legislature was yesterday, so nothing will be voted on before Christmas. Further, even if it were to pass, the resolution is only symbolic, and doesn’t carry the weight of law. So officially, this year’s decorated evergreen at the Capitol is a Christmas tree, at least this holiday season. Here’s an idea. How about if lawmakers spend their time on something that really matters, instead of how we are to properly refer to a big tree?