Thursday, January 27

Finally there was a day when something happened!  Governor Branstad gave his budget address to a joint session of the legislature.  Back to the chairs, back to the huge crowds of people.  It was the first time I've ever seen him in person.  His budget seems to cut programs that were initially funded by one-time money from the federal government.  As if that wasn't exciting enough, there was some more debate on the floor in the afternoon.  The first bill to come up was to require photo identification to vote.  The Republicans argued that it would solidify the integrity of the voting system, while the Democrats argued that it would create an unnecessary burden on Iowans (especially the elderly and minorities) who do not have a photo ID.  Good points on both sides.  It passed 60-40.

The next bill created an online searchable budget database for anyone to see exactly Iowa's revenues and expenses, thus increasing government transparency.  This bill passed unanimously.  What a wonderful bipartisan end to the week.

After debate, I sat in on a Veterans' Affairs meeting.  They passed a bill which gives National Guardsmen & -women the ability to sign over their share of custody/visitation to someone of their choosing if they are deployed.  The bill will now go to the floor of the house.

Wednesday, January 26

As I was walking to the Capitol yesterday I looked up - up in two trees on both sides of Grand Avenue were two flocks of crows c-cawing across the road at each other.   Throughout the display a third flock, the largest, of high-flying crows circled above the road.  First one side of the tree would talk, then the other.  What they were saying, who knows.  Perhaps they were rival flocks giving each other a hard time.  I didn't see any crows cross the road to the other tree.  All they did was bicker; they didn't seem to be getting anything done.

This morning I saw the same scene - I'll bet that the same crows were on the same sides bickering over the same things. 

Why in the world would I tell such a story (which is true)? Who cares if two sides are arguing over something, trying to convince the other side they are right, refusing to concede any points whatsoever to the other side?  Get the hint?  The crows could have been telling jokes back and forth for all I know, but I thought this would be an accurate comparison to what I see every day in the House of Representatives.

What was the third flock circling above? I see that as the flock that was tired of waiting for the others to find a solution and work together.  Which flock are you?

Tuesday, January 25

Today was about the same as yesterday (it's obvious when I start writing about my reading habits that I'm really bored.  By the way, I finished my book today).  In the morning we saw Newt Gingrich being escorted by all the high-and-mighties; there were also FFA members from several schools on tours with their respective reps on the floor.  On the floor below in the rotunda, protestors from the Citizens for Community Improvement were piled up against Governor Branstad's office door.  I could hear them all the way from the House floor. 

A task I enjoy several times each day is going to the bill room.  There are two ladies that brighten up each time I walk in, and they have an organized system for storing House Files, House Study Files, House Joint Resolutions, and who knows what other kinds of stuff.  Storing and handing out every single piece of legislation would be overwhelming, but not for these two.  I suspect they have had plenty of time to think about how to do it; the room is tiny and has shifting aisles and a vertically rotating file cabinet and has an atmosphere of its own.  Anyway, I told them I would write about them sometime.

Things should pick up (a lot) later this week because the marraige amendment will be debated. 

Monday, January 24

This morning I had a quick, 14-minute commute to work after rush hour because we didn't have to be at work until 10:00.  Still, it's quite a difference from the 20-second trip to and from school.  Speaking of school, I spent an hour this morning updating the activity calendar so it's easier to go from month to month.  For anyone looking for something to do, I created the calendar up to July of 2013, although everything past this August is blank...

At 11:00 this morning we had a Lunch 'n Learn - when all the pages gather in a room for lunch and Charlie and Meghan, the Chief Clerk/Asst. Chief Clerk, talk to us about what we think is good and bad and answer any questions we have regarding the going-ons of the House.  In the future, Charlie has arranged for Majority Leader Upmeyer, Minority Leader McCarthy, Speaker Paulsen, a judge, and either the governor or Lt. governor to meet us for Lunch 'n Learns in the future.  That should be interesting.

The House convened at 1:00 for about 15 minutes and then adjourned for the day.  Once again, it was slow all the day long and nothing happened, at least not that I noticed.  On a positive note, I am reading an excellent book and should be done with it tomorrow!

Thursday, January 20

This was definitely a boring day.  The sessions were short and it was adjourned for the day by 12:10, after which both parties caucused outside of the chamber.  I staffed the Ways & Means committee.  We had lunch in the gallery.  Then I was in with the Economic Development Committee which hosted Iowa's new economic development director, Debi Durham.  She seems to have lots of good ideas for increasing, well, Iowa's economic development.

Wednesday, January 19 - Part 2

In the morning, it wasn’t too busy but in the afternoon that changed.  Lobbyists were going crazy because the floor was finally opened for debate for amendments for the Taxpayers First Act (TFA).  The first major back-and-forth was for an amendment, proposed by Democrats, which would continue funding for 4-year-old preschool.  While the Republicans argued that the greater need was downsizing government and reducing the budget by making tough sacrifices, the Democrats argued that the greater need was providing quality, early-childhood education for more Iowans.  In my opinion, both sides are right! But was is the greater need?

Another major amendment was to continue funding for anti-substance programs like D.A.R.E., J.E.L., and Quitline Iowa, once again proposed by the Democrats.  Both sides held their positions for the same reasons as before.  Such went every amendment proposed by the Democrats.

The amendment results?  On these two amendments, the vote on whether to pass was Nay-60; Yay-40.  The split between Republicans and Democrats?  60-40 respectively.  There are no partisan politics whatsoever down here.

The results on the Taxpayer First Act? After 8-9 hours of nonstop (a.k.a. no breaks, recesses, at ease etc.) debate, the TFA was passed 60-40 around 11:30 p.m.  The best part? When I got here this morning I couldn't find the paper with the full-page+ of written-out blog so I recalled all of this from memory!!

Wednesday, January 19 - Part 1

What an... interesting day.

I was halfway to my car around 11:30 after a late debate when I remembered I had left my notes for my blog in the chamber.  I was giving someone a ride home, and then went back to the capitol to get it.  That was when I found out that not even our high tech badges will let us in at 11:45 pm. Well I got home at midnight (the blogspot clock is wrong) and will give a complete recap of the day tomorrow when I can think somewhat straight.

Tuesday, January 18

After a restful 4-day weekend it was back to the grind once again.  Today's session began at 10:00 am and we had to be there at 8:00.  As a result, for two hours, there wasn't very much to do.  However, after the two-minute session it was very busy - there were lots of lobbyists who wanted to talk to Reps.  At some point today a couple pages cleaned out an old filing cabinet in the page's corner.  Several small treasures were found - crayons/colored pencils, a Zen garden, an original texting ban bill from last session, and most of all, several letters from last year's pages.

One letter was addressed to (last year's) Senate pages saying that so-and-so was not authorized to sign a surrender document (and any such document was null and void) on behalf  of the House pages.  Something terrible must have gone down.  Another letter was written by a couple pages on a slow day.  I still don't know if Maynard has a letter or not (see last post) - it would be like him (in a good way) to make up the whole thing to drive us nuts.

I did something today that I'm not proud of - I was carrying a box out to a Rep's car and very-nearly locked the key in it.  I looked it up and she is from a far corner of the state and the car didn't look like it would have OnStar, so I'm really glad I didn't have to come back and tell her...

In both of the page's corners, behind the length of the benches, are massive heat vents which blast a non-stop inferno of hot air into the room (as if there isn't already enough).  What a terrible place to have a heat vent: right behind the hardest-working, most active people in the room.  Anyway,  in between the bottom of the windows and the window sills are small flaps that open to the outside.  To keep from drenching our dashing uniforms in sweat, we have been opening these vents.  Today Maynard came over and told us that in order to please the Reps, the vents should be closed (his exact words were "I'd rather argue with you than a representative").  Following my talent of forming creative solutions, I was inspired to move across the corner to a chair which is not nearly as comfortable, but at least is not in front of a blazing inferno.  Best of all, I can be both comfortable and dashing at the same time.

Thursday, January 13

The highlight errand of the day was running up to the third floor to a pop machine and writing on a notepad with a marker all the kinds of pop available.  When I got back to the Rep he thanked me and told me he'd ding again once he knew what he wanted.  It wasn't nearly as fun as de-icing wipers, but it did make me thirsty which is almost as bad as being numb.  I staffed the Natural Resources Committee meeting at 11:00.  Once again, it was simply introductions and approval of the rules.

I talked to Maynard about a letter that last year's pages left for us.  He said he has it, but he's too stubborn to let us read it.  It probably has all the helpful hints that have eluded us thus far.  Or maybe it's a list of the big no-nos of the House, half of which I've probably unknowingly broken.  Whatever it is, it must be pretty juicy, otherwise Maynard wouldn't care if we saw it.

Today was fairly (extremely) slow - several meetings and caucuses took place, so the floor wasn't terribly busy.  Once again, it was adjourned shortly after 1:00.  Tomorrow is Branstad's re-inauguration.  We were all given first shots at tickets, which are free, but I chose to decline because my mom would like me home ASAP.  On the plus side, I learned how to fax today.  All fax machines are different!!

Finally, the House pages have come together to form the G.P.A. (General Page Assembly).  As acting treasurer, I have the duty (privilege) of cashing in all the bottles and cans thrown into recycling boxes in our corners.  I even went beyond the call of duty and raided a couple of bins outside the chamber when (almost) no one was looking.  Hopefully by the end of the session there will be enough money to buy a pizza.  Even if it's a small and we all have to share.

P.S. I'm off tomorrow (Friday) and Monday for MLK Jr. Day, so there won't be posts.

Wednesday, January 12

Another big day with cameras and chairs.  The first errand I ran was to go out to a vehicle to knock the ice off of the wipers.  Brrr. This time it was the Chief Justice’s turn to address a joint session.  There was not very much clapping until the end.  I had the duty of retrieving the “Statewides” for the assembly: Attorney General, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of Agriculture, & State Auditor.  It was neat to escort them around the capitol, and I'm surprised I suddenly didn't get lost and start leading them through the tunnel...

After the joint session, the House was dismissed for lunch until 1:30.  I answered a few calls at the switchboard and may have hung up on a couple before I got the hang of it.  Maynard supervised the sorting and finally taking down of all the chairs.  Now there is lots of room to romp about!  The afternoon was very uneventful; many of the reps were in caucus. 

For two days now, I have filled in at the sergeant-at-arms desk for another page during her break.  Yesterday, she came back and I hadn't gotten to ding once (a ding is what the pages listen for in the corners, meaning someone wants them).  Today, she came back and sat behind me; after 20 minutes, I finally got one note to ding. How frustrating.

To keep the readers, well, reading, I have left the fire alarm for last.  The cause of it was: I don't know.  As far as I can tell, the capitol is still standing, at least the important parts are. 

Tuesday, January 11

The minute I walked in I knew it was going to be a busy day.  Even more chairs than yesterday were crammed into the space between the back row of reps and the pages' corner.  Today was the day of the joint session with Governor Culver, who gave a speech which complemented him greatly.  Several clap-happy participants were eager to applaud at the slightest positive remark (at least every 45 seconds); applause easily accounted for half of the speech.  After that, it was back to the regular session, which was promptly dismissed for lunch.  At 1:45, it was reopened to announce the committee meetings for the afternoon. Five minutes later: adjournment for the day.  At 2:00 I reported to the Reagan Room to page for the Local Government Committee.  I handed out the rule sheet to the legislators, and after introductions around the room, the rules were adopted and the meeting adjourned. Ten minutes.

Now I am sitting in the corner after a break during which I bought a Mt. Dew and a Nutter Butter.  I briefly filled in at the Sergeant-at-Arms desk and talked to Maynard (the Sergeant-at-Arms).  He has now begun his 24th year in the House, beginning as a doorman, becoming Asst. SA, and then to SA just last session.  Between him and Harold, the Asst. SA, the House floor is relatively well-organized.  We can all tell that those two have been around here for a while - - - woo woo woo!

I just packed everything up and moved to a couch next to an exterior door... the fire alarm is going off... rather than wait for the all-clear, I'm comfortable on a couch finishing my blog for the day.  I'll remember to give the outcome tomorrow.

Monday, January 10

At the beginning of the first day of the session, it was evident that the pages were not the only people who did not know what they were doing.  Of the hundreds, perhaps millions of people crammed into the suddenly small space, many were brand-new to the show.  For example, our first task was to pass out papers to all the desks.  Upon completion, we realized that instead of a single sheet, it was supposed to be a three-page packet.  We hastily picked the papers back up, much to the dismay of several representatives, and tried again.  As they arrived, several legislators asked us to retrieve boxes of files etc. from their vehicles - we finally figured out where the heck they had parked (e.g. I was told to look for a Honda CRV while holding a key to a Chrysler).

The first order of business was to vote in the Chief Clerk and the Speaker.  Next, each legislator's name was read off along with their district number and they were all sworn in.  Then the majority leader (R) went through the motions of making several motions to notify the governor and senate that the house was "ready for business".  The formalities followed were gruelingly... grueling.

The rest of the day was - slow.  They recessed over lunch hour (11:30-1:45) during which we had almost nothing to do.  Near the end of the day, we carried 166 boxes, each containing the entire State of Iowa Code, across the chamber to a small office.  All in all, I really did have a good day.  I am looking forward to being busier in the future.