Tuesday started out later than usual as it became Monday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On Tuesday the Fairness Alliance came to visit Rep. DeWeese for the third time bringing up the same issues and bills as before so after meeting with them I thoroughly looked up the bills they were curious about and summarizes them for Rep. DeWeese so he could come up with responses for them the next time they visit, which I am sure there will be a next time. Looking up bills helps me understand first off what each bill is talking about but also how each bill affects a previous bill that was passed and what agency it will be under and therefore how it will affect that particular group of people and the general public. On Tuesday I also replied to constituents through emails. The biggest concern it seems to be with constituents is on human services and how low the budget is this year. People write in asking and sometimes begging Rep DeWeese to stand against cuts in human services.

Thursday I started off with reviewing a survey sent out to all the members of Rep. DeWeese’s District. There were about 10 questions pertaining to what will be the most important things on this Legislative session’s agenda. Each questionnaire received back contained various opinions on what is the most important to the public, how they stand on issues such as gaming, and comments rangeing from “Your doing a great job keep up the work,” to what kind of policies they think should be implemented and how to go about implementing them. I also went to committee meetings that day as well as responding to numerous constituents.

I didn’t know what to expect when I walked in the office last Thursday. I was told what was expected of me and then let loose. Tuesday began with going through mail and emails looking for constituents in Rep. DeWeese’s area that we could reply back to. After doing research on each bill that the constituents showed concerned about we expressed our thanks and told them we would look into each bill and issue very carefully. The next thing on our agenda for the day was to go to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. In this committee I saw the legislative process for politics come to life as the representatives debated over House Bill 111 and 177. The next thing to attend was session. I had no idea what to expect and was I in for a surprise. I have never seen more chaotic order in all my life, it was great. In this session rules were just presented and no bills were voted on, so it was cut short. The best part of my day came next as Representative DeWeese met with lobbyist for the Fairness Alliance. I listened and took notes as they discussed upcoming bills that were important to their cause. Representative DeWeese then gave his opinion on how he saw the bills and then the constituents were on their way. After they left he asked me how I stood and what I thought about the bills discussed and the issues brought before him. It was great to see how Rep. DeWeese handled this situation. He knows he has a range of political ideas in his Louisville District and he wants to please the public and keep great social relations at the same time. Thursday consisted of even more committees and a session were two bills were passed. I am looking forward to what else this journey has in store for me.