Glazier ailing

One of the most passionate and progressive voices in the General Assembly has been missing from the legislative debate this week and won't be back for a while. Rep. Rick Glazier is scheduled to have back surgery in Raleigh Thursday to repair a herniated disk and will be recovering at home in Fayetteville for two to three weeks.

Glazier has been told that he might be able to work half-days around the third week of June. It may be five weeks before he is allowed to resume his normal schedule at the Legislative Building. Don't count on that time frame. Glazier has reportedly been meeting with legislative staff by phone while flat on his back.

More than one progressive advocate who heard the news expressed concern for Glazier, but quickly added that he or she was worried about effect of Glazier's absence on the fate of legislation that would help the poor or improve our schools or protect the rights of people often forgotten or discriminated against. Hard to think of a better tribute to a lawmaker than that.

Here's to a speedy recovery.