Monday, January 31

Today's session was short and sweet - it lasted a whole entire 6 minutes. 

Before that, though, we had another Lunch 'n Learn with Majority Leader Upmeyer.  She explained her job and answered questions.  I asked what her top priorities were, and she said that stabilizing the economy and the budget were on top, because a more predictable government encourages entrepreneurship and small business growth, which increases jobs and helps the economy and so on...   Apparently some 600 bills have filed with the Legislative Services Agency, and about 150 of them have become House Files which I retrieve from the wonderful bill room ladies and hand out to lobbyists.  Upmeyer also is in charge of the blue calendar - this is the list of bills she wishes to pursue with debate.  She is the one that decides if and when a House file is debated. She also says she meets with Minority Leader McCarthy often to discuss schedules and so forth. 

I staffed an Agriculture meeting during which local food production was discussed.  The ISU Extension has formulated a plan, part of which gives incentives to schools and healthcare institutions for purchasing locally grown foods.

Tomorrow will be very interesting.