Legislators faced a deadline last week for completing work on most of the 2,309 bills and resolutions introduced this winter. Despite the brutal workload, they managed to find time for brochure bills, measures that lack both purpose and common sense yet nevertheless will be featured prominently on campaign literature in this election year.

First up was a resolution penned by Del. Scott Lingamfelter, one of the legion of Republicans hoping to be the next lieutenant governor. The resolution notifies U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of Congress that Virginia legislators are both concerned and confused about Agenda 21.

Lingamfelter fears that the plan calling for voluntary measures aimed at sustainable development, resilient cities and other green goals will eventually threaten American sovereignty. He’s a bit slow on the uptake. Agenda 21 was passed 21 years ago, and American sovereignty seems as secure as ever.

Lingamfelter may have overreacted after reading talk-show host Glenn Beck’s novel “Agenda 21,” which portrays people living in concrete cubicles until scary men come and incinerate them alive for trying to recycle plastic yogurt cups. His website modestly compares him to George Orwell.

As ridiculous as Lingamfelter’s resolution is, it comes with a minimal pricetag. The ubiquitous Del. Bob Marshall, who is always running for something, ups the ante with a study to determine whether Virginia should establish its own metal currency in case the Federal Reserve goes bust.

Marshall hopes that the study will give Virginia consumers more confidence in their state government. His measure is unlikely to inspire confidence when state taxpayers learn that they are spending $17,440 on this escapade and tying up the valuable time of the state treasurer to boot.

Perhaps the 65 delegates who backed Marshall’s bill will donate their watches to be melted down and used to pay for this nonsense. They should make sure there’s enough left over to cover postage to pelt Ban Ki-moon with junk mail.

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16 hours ago