So far this year, I’ve made a couple of trips to Helena, testifying on bills for the first half of the legislative session.
Every Montanan should make the effort to visit the Capitol during the session, even testify on a bill. You are guaranteed to learn something about how our government runs – notice I didn’t say “works.”
What should you expect?
First, parking is atrocious. Building a garage for four-months use every two years is dumb, so Montana won’t. Give yourself 45 minutes extra time. Plan on dropping off your passengers (easy), practice your parallel parking, and be ready to walk six blocks or more. Small cars park way easier than stretch crew cabs.
Next, we have a cool Capitol: Classy and utilitarian, elegant and funky, artsy and plebian all at once. I especially like the unobtrusive security – they’re on their game, but not in your face like at the U.S. Capitol. “No weapons allowed,” however.
After walking in at ground level, keep going until you see the mob around the front desk. Look for four piles of paper: Committee and floor agendas for both House and Senate. Grab those, you’ll need them. There’s also a pile of Montana Legislative Guides listing Montana’s elected officials and contact information, courtesy of the Montana Electric Co-ops and telecom people. Grab one, an extra for someone who will use it, but don’t be greedy.
Now you’re set … oh, restrooms are on the south wall on either side of the main stairwell. Snack bars are in the basement “bullpen,” and on the north third floor between the House and Senate.
Keep in mind you aren’t going to get a nice, leisurely visit with your hometown legislator. Want face time? Schedule it beforehand and keep it short, no matter what. Time is of the essence. Each legislative day starts at 8:00 a.m. with morning committee hearings. Those may or may not drag out, and/or have executive sessions where the decision to kill a bill or move it to the floor get made. At 1 p.m. the floor sessions begin, often running until just a few minutes before evening committee hearings start again at 3 p.m. Those in turn often drag out until 7 p.m., even midnight, and even after that a committee can go into executive session.
Who does have plenty of time to talk to you? Lobbyists. They’ll be lining the benches along what I call “Lobbyist Alley” on the third floor and outside the hearing rooms. If you know who they represent, and discreetly watch, you can learn which politicians listen to them.
You’ll have lots of time to wander and kibitz. Bored? Scattered around the building are computers linked to the Legislature’s handy Web site: http://leg.mt.gov/css/default.asp. Citizens are also welcome to use them to check bill language or other information. But if someone else asks, courtesy first.
OK, now you found the hearing room and a seat. If you plan on testifying, sign the register at the front door. Bill supporters (proponents) go first, opponents last. Rarely, people are asked follow-up questions by the committee.
Testimony is not the Academy Awards. The protocol is to start with “Mister or Madam Chairman, members of the Committee,” carefully say your name, spell it, then where you’re from and who you represent – then get to the point.
Always listen to what others say. If they cover “your” point, it’s better to say “I agree with Mr. Doe’s point on such and such” and sit the heck down.
Tend to blather? Don’t. Legislators hate that. Worse, you might just mess up the testimony of the next person, who could have left you thinking, “Dang, I wish I had that,” and the legislators voting your way.
After the hearing is over and you’re back home, you’ll probably feel like you made less “difference” than a snowflake in a blizzard. But if you did it right, you just might be the lucky snowflake in Hel.