In less than a month our General Assembly will be back in session for another term. As the gavel signals the beginning of this session it will be the beginning of my ninth year under the Gold Dome as an advocate for moral issues. The former eight years have been interesting, allowing me to learn much about the way our government functions. I have gotten to know many people who have more years in service than I do. It is interesting to watch groups of lobbyists as they gather outside the chambers and walk up and down in the corridors of the Capitol. A conversation with friends can come to an abrupt end as an elected official walks nearby and one in the group leaves to talk with the lawmaker. News media folks can be the most interesting to watch as they want to be sure to not miss a quote, or find that a story they are working on for a deadline has faded like mist in the wind. When one is trying not to listen to other conversations, the sounds have a way of traveling in the echoing hard surfaces of the halls of the Capitol, so small groups have a way of finding a corner as they gather to talk being confident their voices are no louder than a whisper.
Being one of those disliked groups (I am a registered lobbyist), it can be interesting to watch the faces of visitors to the Capitol as they get a look at the badge indicating that I am a lobbyist. The reaction can be fun with a group of school kids on the elevators of the Capitol when they see the lobbyist badge and begin to react to their impression of what a lobbyist does. As a person who is an advocate for life issues and certain moral public policy matters, also marks me as one to avoid by certain other groups of lobbyists. I confess that I have enjoyed the independence of being able to stand alone or with a small group of people who argue passionately for the convictions we hold.
I have always held a respect for people willing to offer to serve in elective office. That respect has deepened in these years. Having the chance to get to know the men and women serving in the House of Representatives and Senate and many of their staff members has not disillusioned me about government, but instead has enhanced it. Those who serve in our state are men and women seeking to make right decisions. I do not always agree with them, and sometime I wonder, as many people do, how or why they could have reached the decision they did and voted the way they did, but nonetheless, I respect the majority of them for their willingness to try to do the right thing as they understand it at the time. I know the popular attitude is to throw the people out if we disagree with them. I know many people are under the mistaken opinion that all political systems stink and that all politicians are corrupt. While it is true, some politicians are corrupt, but all of them are not, in fact, most of the men and women who serve do so out of a desire to give back to their communities and to serve the public. I know many of you reading these words disagree with my position on this, which you have the right to do, but I have witnessed the struggling moments as lawmakers have wrestled with making decisions just before they vote. These men and women volunteer for their jobs, and campaign aggressively to be able to keep their jobs which makes some people conclude that corruption must be the motivator. I am sure for the majority of them that is not true. I do know that voters need to be as informed as possible before they vote someone into office and continue to keep in contact with their elected officials once they are in office to assure that the representation they receive is the kind of representation they want.
Bills are being pre filed now for this upcoming session and by any evaluation, looking at some of these bills, this next session will be interesting to say the least. I am certain that this next session will present challenges to all involved; lawmakers and citizens.
Ray Newman Copyright
Column first appeared in The Barrow County News December 14, 2011
Being one of those disliked groups (I am a registered lobbyist), it can be interesting to watch the faces of visitors to the Capitol as they get a look at the badge indicating that I am a lobbyist. The reaction can be fun with a group of school kids on the elevators of the Capitol when they see the lobbyist badge and begin to react to their impression of what a lobbyist does. As a person who is an advocate for life issues and certain moral public policy matters, also marks me as one to avoid by certain other groups of lobbyists. I confess that I have enjoyed the independence of being able to stand alone or with a small group of people who argue passionately for the convictions we hold.
I have always held a respect for people willing to offer to serve in elective office. That respect has deepened in these years. Having the chance to get to know the men and women serving in the House of Representatives and Senate and many of their staff members has not disillusioned me about government, but instead has enhanced it. Those who serve in our state are men and women seeking to make right decisions. I do not always agree with them, and sometime I wonder, as many people do, how or why they could have reached the decision they did and voted the way they did, but nonetheless, I respect the majority of them for their willingness to try to do the right thing as they understand it at the time. I know the popular attitude is to throw the people out if we disagree with them. I know many people are under the mistaken opinion that all political systems stink and that all politicians are corrupt. While it is true, some politicians are corrupt, but all of them are not, in fact, most of the men and women who serve do so out of a desire to give back to their communities and to serve the public. I know many of you reading these words disagree with my position on this, which you have the right to do, but I have witnessed the struggling moments as lawmakers have wrestled with making decisions just before they vote. These men and women volunteer for their jobs, and campaign aggressively to be able to keep their jobs which makes some people conclude that corruption must be the motivator. I am sure for the majority of them that is not true. I do know that voters need to be as informed as possible before they vote someone into office and continue to keep in contact with their elected officials once they are in office to assure that the representation they receive is the kind of representation they want.
Bills are being pre filed now for this upcoming session and by any evaluation, looking at some of these bills, this next session will be interesting to say the least. I am certain that this next session will present challenges to all involved; lawmakers and citizens.
Ray Newman Copyright
Column first appeared in The Barrow County News December 14, 2011
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