Main Street, Wyoming; 723; Citizen Legislature

Main Street Wyoming is made possible by Kennicott energy company proud to be part of Wyoming's future in the coal and uranium industries which includes exploration mining and production and the Wyoming Council for the Humanities enriching the lives of Wyoming people through the study of Wyoming history values and ideas. Of Wyoming's three branches of government. It's our state legislature which is closest to the people. Our state legislators live in our neighborhoods in our towns in our voting districts and they as our elected officials directly represent us. Join us on Main Street Wyoming to have a closer look at our Wyoming state legislature and see how our laws are really written. Do you. Really use. The word love. So.

This is special orders away from store. There's a lot of service thank you for their efforts in getting this bill passed. I especially want to thank Representative Mike Johnson for his insight and encouragement. And my good friend. For feeling as passionate about this issue as I do. I guess what it boils down to that if this law saves just one child from that torment and pain that child sexual abuse creates it will have been worth every effort we put forth in the last four years. But if the laws enacted every year in Wyoming come from a variety of sources before they reach the governor's desk for signature they are all drafted debated and amended here at the Wyoming state legislature. Our legislators get the desk on the floor to file cabinets in a committee meeting

room. We give them two hundred fifty sheets of stationery and a phone credit card to use when they need to do legislative business that's it. If they have to mail I make Miller director of the legislative service office describes the different types of state legislatures to a group of students preparing to serve as legislative internships and there are a number of states that have what are often referred to as congressional eyes legislatures and they are characterized by legislatures that meet almost year round. They have gigantic staffs they have individual staff members each legislator kind of looks like a congressman or a United States senator they have offices and all the trappings of office. Have annual salaries and really although some pride themselves on saying well we're just citizen legislators the simple fact of the matter is that's what they do for a living. And there are number of legislatures like that. There is another group on the other end of which Wyoming is a park and those are what I would call a truly citizen legislators in another words.

You gotta do something else besides be a wildman legislator if you want to eat or have a roof over your head because there's nowhere near enough money to cover that. They're also characterized by extraordinarily small staff. I generally know individual staff no individual offices are like I am a citizen. I am at home. I go to work just like they go to work every day except for 40 days one. One year and 20 another and then I put on a different hat and I come to shy and we try to frantically do our work. And in my own case and as many of the other senators even still maintain contact with what's going on at home my civilian world job I still have to make contact with and make sure things are flowing at home as well as doing what I do down here. I'm a professional firefighter for the city of Cheyenne and. What's unique I think about the Wyoming legislature in that experience is you have folks from all walks of life that come here just a few days out of the

year and they bring those unique experiences true to true life to the Wyoming legislature on behalf of the people and so it's that broad perspective that I think makes this this unique unique system that works on behalf of oil and the citizens. Every legislator comes with areas of X expertise or some expertise. And then you start networking I guess or connecting to people that you think have some some good advice or some knowledge. For example I'll always talk to a lawyer if I think something might not work in you know in the legal practice for example or in the courtroom crime I talk to a doctor we have several I talk to people because I don't know a thing about it. And you build those relationships and also you find legislators that talk to talk and others talk with very good information to share and you develop a respect for those that do.

And of course when you're here you're in session it's really intense and I that's a great thing about Wyoming is we are truly a citizen legislature. And let's never change that. Let's never change that because that's what makes the WAMI the great state if you're crazy enough to be in politics. The only state I can think about ever being that and running for politics would be in Wyoming because we are a citizen legislature. We are elected by our constituents to be an extension of their views which is what we are to come down here represent and do our work and go home. Wyoming has chosen to approach this not merely because we're small you know Alaska in terms of population is only slightly larger than Wyoming they have fewer legislators they've got 40 reps and 20 senators as opposed to our 16:30. They're in session one month 30 days longer than we are. They have a hundred sixty four times staff their biennial budget are buying a budget for the entire legislative operation is better than six million bucks. Alaska is a little better than thirty two million dollars. It is a different philosophy if it's a different approach.

You get senior members of the school here and each of those actions is accompanied with numerous rules and procedures. And you're. Right I am to meet throughout the session different legislators are invited to sit in for the president of the Senate or the speaker of the House first term Representative Bob Tanner practices the required procedures. Many write report.

Ready for the audit. Why this this present legislature I am the floor leader in the majority for a leader. The function that I have basically is to run the day to day workings of the Senate. I'm not the president I don't assign committees. I don't call the sessions to order. Well what we do during the day is supposed to be my responsibility to make sure that which bills we. Discuss. I'm the minority floor leader and my role is to to work with the Democrats issues through the legislature and to work with the

majority party and in the structure of the legislative process. There's there are very seldom issues that are part of something on the Wyoming Senate. Certainly we come across as issues but all in all it's a it's nonpartisan is a bipartisan effort working together on behalf of the citizens of Wyoming. Yes. If things are becoming out of control it's my responsibility to enter and intervene and try to right things. We haven't had that kind of a problem this year. That very very few times in all my time down here have I seen a need for that right. Right. Your. Proposed legislation is called the bill if it originates in the house from the Senate. Representative describe what happens to the bill or file once

it's introduced by a legislator. The speaker or the president the Senate would have put them in a specific standing committee. Now once it goes to that standing committee it's up to the frog to do that committee chairman whether or not he hears that bill when he hears that bill that's totally up to him. So some bills just will die in committee I mean that's a process. Then of course if the committee should the committee chairman should bring that bill for the committee works ability comes to the to the general file as it is and it's up to the majority leader and in the case of the house me to look at that bill see what I think about it bring it up discussed and debated or in some cases like during the the early side of it there are some bills that just did not come up for various reasons and there are couple set of files now on that list that will not come up. Very few constituents really get a chance to even observe this process have never been to the Capitol leaf and so if that's the hard thing just the daily routine where and what it really means. I think

probably the hardest thing to describe to them are the little undercurrent things that go on the daily activity. How important for example rules are. Just how bills rise and fall on the of the agenda each day and what that means and the risings go to committee early on and then never get hurt or get killed or whatever. You're a beautiful creation which by law no legislation can be passed which has not been studied in committee. Twelve standing committees do the business of the House and the Senate. This meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee occurred prior to the start of the daily session. Jefferson assured her that the items that are included on here. Are items of state treasurer to our understanding. Fortunately nothing doing there has not been a comprehension cash flow analysis. You stated the experts and private citizens may be called upon to testify before a committee meeting.

Mr Gagne Mr Moore has. Being the culprit in a. Cash flow analysis it would be. Just like standing and knowledge in addition to serving on their assigned committees or legislators follow bills they've sponsored through the committee process. Sure enough there was. No one like you to make. Your. Case. Which 225. If I may explain. Gently pushing concern in the. World about job resources and keeping your. Grounds tell Bush losses for eight. Years the committee has two ways it can kill a bill. They can give a Do Not Pass recommendation or the committee chairman can prevent the bill from being discussed until the end of the session when time has run out. A committee do pass

recommendation does not guarantee a bill's passage to the majority floor leader may bury it in a stack of bills on general file. Again using time to prevent its introduction. Or the bill may fail to pass both houses. Only I. Know I have a. Very nice one for the on going anywhere. To use a basketball term this environment is an in-your-face environment. We are all trapped on the two floors of this building. It's cold and lousy outside so we spend most of our time here and the days get long as a matter of fact I've had the enjoyable experience of seeing the sun come up here more than once and not because I came to work early. So after you've been here all night a couple of times the charm and friendliness that you see during these few days begin for a little

bit. The legislative business of the state is compressed into such a short time span. Efforts are made to enhance collegiality. At the end of a long day. These House members prepare for adjournment and the University of Wyoming basketball game were. Very rare. Yes.

Many legislators families accompany them for the session or visit on the weekends. You can spot their kids hanging out at their hotels. Well obviously you see a lot of the different faces that do that come and go and move on. But you still see I think the same quality of people that come from all walks of life to bring perspectives that you know are just unique to Wyoming that make this system work and. And that's that's enjoyable because I think when you get it when you get done with the legislature whether it's in your career in the legislature or for if you get done with a session you walk away first to you know as friends. I mean everyone is very close in this process. You know working together

certainly we have our days where where were. The pros and cons on issues seem to be personal. But at the Days Inn you can walk away and and still be friends. Yes. In recent years there's been heightened media and public attention focused on the role of lobbyist in the passage of legislation. But if you provide a legislator with something that's wrong if you lie. I mean I think a lobbyist is dead. Because then I mean no one would know to listen to him again. And that point of view and take that information limber laffy a lobbyist and former legislator spoke to the legislative interns about lobbyists in Wyoming. I've seen I guess this from both sides. And the reason I'm a

lobbyist is because basically I don't do that all the time I'm full time is what's called an association manager I manage the Wyoming lodge and Restaurant Association in the Wyoming retail Merchants Association. So if you're going to go talk to a legislator or testified to the committee on behalf of your company organization then you're required to register as a lobbyist. The best thing you can learn about lobbyists is to set aside all the old images of someone who's got a lot of money and is going to wind and die and take legislators out to dinner. And that may happen but that is not at all the main function of a lobbyist the main function of a lobbyist and the main benefit for you is they are a great source of information. So really the main role of a lobbyist and this is even true I think with a corporation is a lot of communication and a lot of education. The other thing I mention about lobbying is the whole idea of entertainment who you know what you know you know

that kind of thing. But when push comes to shove a legislator has to be re-elected and if their constituents have a very definite point of view that's different from the lobbyist. Just because a lobbyist has made a contribution to a campaign or taken a legislator out to dinner it's probably not going to be the deciding factor. I think the deciding factor a lot of times is who has had this information and is the most convincing who gets that information back out around the state of Wyoming so those people around the state of Wyoming talk to their own legislators in their own districts. And that's where a lot of times an issue succeeds or doesn't succeed. Thank you. During the legislative session different groups sponsor receptions for legislators. Crystal Stratton president of the Wyoming Library Association told us about her Association

and its purpose. The association promotes library services throughout the state and also provides professional and continuing education development opportunities for the state's librarians. And we are very interested in any library services and information access issue in providing the quality library services in all types of libraries. We have done this for a number of years and it is getting to be a very welcomed tradition in the legislator's calendar. We are fortunate that we find it to be a very beneficial opportunity to maintain establish and promote an active dialogue so that we can discuss and educate the legislators on the complexity of library issues and the importance in maintaining quality library services. Right. I would say the mood is one of the highlights of it and it again just gets people here and then we have that opportunity to maintain that effective relationship

in communication with them. So it's success more successful each year in terms of the number of legislators and the number of librarian to attend. I am. The politician has to have at least three hats. He has to have a happy can throw into the ring when he decides he wants to run. It has to have a hat he can talk through when he's campaigning. Then he has to have a hat he can pull rabbits out of once he's elected. Like you we just write the legislation. The real work of the legislature begins between sessions when the interim committees study various subjects prior to attaining the leadership role.

I was on two committees each committee would meet approximately five different times somewhere in the state sometimes shy and sometimes whirl and wherever we try to scattered around the state so other citizens have an input opportunity to us and we have an opportunity to see some of this big state that the people in the south side of the state may not get to the north end and that gives them a good expect opportunity to see some of the things we do discuss in addition to interim studies. The legislators attend hearings and meetings regarding upcoming issues. Congress. Is whether or not retail collecting customers should continue to do so by dish and Monopoly distribution utilities. Whether it's good retail electric distribution wires lines of wholesale should also be open to them.

Did you see my access in the offseason a lot that goes on plus. What you have to do is you your constituents have problems and they just don't happen January-February their problems or your round so they come to you and that's what we do we try to help them. There's always something to do it takes a lot of time. Good morning Mr. Speaker Mr. President on the opening day of the legislative session the governor's state of the state speech outlines the issues facing the legislature and the Supreme Court decision in the fall of 1995 got our attention in a big way dealing with a decision on school finance that it was all unconstitutional the court stated that the inequities in funding distribution that existed without rationale by the use of deductive logic the inequity that was also present in programs and in the delivery system and no state court had ever gone that far before. Well the responsibility for resolving those inequities has been thrust back on the legislature and the

implication that more money is needed. It's an issue that looms over everything we discussed this session. Well the ideas for bills originate in a number of ways. Each bill before the legislature must have a member of the House or Senate as its sponsor in 1971 after the Wyoming state legislature was ranked forty nine in a national study. The legislative service office was created. Mark Wiener is a senior staff attorney. There are five attorneys who do all the work all the legal work for the legislature. We draft all the bills draft all the amendments. Staff all the committees make coffee or do other things for the legislators throughout the year. Paper is constantly being moved from one position to the other as they work on the bells. Now and director of the intern program gave a behind the scenes tour of the Capitol building. The story like time vision between Democrats.

And. Republicans. Was so intense. That. Certain members would not. Have all of their pictures in the scene. So you find one. There is word that there are two pictures of. Them. Party politics. The last time Democrats held a majority in the Wyoming state legislature was the depression. Although during Watergate in the resignation of President Nixon numbers of Republicans and Democrats were about. As minority leader what I what I do is keep the caucus together as much as possible and I don't mean voting together but try to keep them informed. Try to keep them knowledgeable about the issues. Also one of my roles is to run our caucuses if we need caucuses. Again we haven't needed a caucus in this this particular session so. The legislature has diverse pressures and observers. The media reports

daily on activities informing constituents what's happening. And. Everybody gets what I kind of call tunnel vision and just it's like oh this is so important. Well it is. But there are other things that are important too in the world and you just need to keep that perspective or quite frankly you'll go nuts. The House Rules Committee has been called to the speaker's desk to rule on an amendment. The amendment is ruled out of order. Debate continues on the bill. Meanwhile over in the Senate. Right. First of all we. Just put one only. To find that. They are here because of their constituents their constituents elected them and they're here to represent their constituents.

Write out what an honor to serve and be be out there and fight for the people that see fit to elect you so it's a great process a great system. I am sure there are. What I do enjoy and revel if you will in this process that allows us to make decisions in in a way that allows an awful lot of input by an awful lot of people most of the messiness in this is involvement of the public and their representatives. All of these different viewpoints there are two sides to every issue there are usually about 100 to. This group of men and women. Our Senators and Representatives devote hours days weeks and. Years. To serve what they believe to be the best interests of our state and what are the best interests of our state. Well if we all agreed on

that we wouldn't need a legislator. Thanks to my many guests for their insights and thanks to you for joining us on Main Street Wyoming. For a copy of this or any mainstream Wyoming send a check or money order to Wyoming Public Television or call us at 1 800 4 9 5 9 7 8 8. Please include a subject a broadcast date of the program. The cost of each VHS tape is $20. We accept Visa MasterCard and discover. Mainstreet Wyoming is made possible by Kennicott energy company proud to be part of Wyoming's future in the coal and uranium industries which includes exploration

mining and production. The Wyoming Council for the Humanities enriching the lives of Wyoming people through the study of Wyoming history values and ideas and buy Amoco and its employees who have contributed to Wyoming's history and continue to be active in Wyoming communities and in the state Amoco. You expect more from a leader.