Winnowing legislative grain from chaff

During the pre-industrial era, crops of wheat were planted, cultivated, harvested and processed by hand.
The latter included “winnowing,” typically by using a shallow basket to toss the crushed kernels of wheat into the air, allowing the wind to separate edible grain from the lighter and disposable chaff.
The term is also quite applicable as the state Legislature resumes its biennial session.
Winnowing weighty grains of policy wheat from lightweight legislative chaff is not always ea