The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kayla M. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Shadow a Local Leader
I recently had the opportunity to shadow State Representative Marty Knollenberg. The close-up view of the legislative process and the high-speed communication skills required for political work opened my eyes to the challenges and rewards of a career in politics.
The day began in Lansing at Representative Knollenberg's dignified office with a beautiful view overlooking the Capitol. Meeting with Rep. Knollenberg's chief of staff, Michael Webber, was very helpful; he provided me with a schedule for the day and agendas for the committee and legislative sessions I would attend. He also supplied me with a copy of the MIRS, Michigan Information and Research Service, a newspaper reporting current issues and bills under discussion in the House of Representatives.
That morning, the House Transportation committee was abuzz with activity, filled with constituents passionate about the issues at hand. The chairman sped through the meeting, while concerned citizens testified in support of several bills and resolutions to be submitted to the House. Several representatives asked questions of the bills' proponents, seeking clarification and more specific information. While several committee members had specific questions, the condensed format of committee meetings does not allow for more than a brief overview of bills reaching the House. The committee members voted yes on every resolution, sending each with a recommendation to the legislative floor.
After the committee meeting, Rep. Knollenberg described his daily work as we walked back to his office. As a House member in his second term, Knollenberg serves on three committees: Transportation, New Economy, and Commerce. Communication in Knollenberg's field is constant, whether it be with constituents, lobbyists, or fellow legislators. I was amazed at the variety and unexpected qualities of his job. For instance, the day before I shadowed Rep. Knollenberg, the legislative session ran three hours longer than usual because of the contentious Detroit River International Crossing bill. While this legislation had been brewing in the House for several days, the majority party can introduce bills onto the floor for voting without advance notice. Thus the ability to think on one's feet is a must in the legislature.
After the legislative session that afternoon, which consisted primarily of voting instead of debate, Rep. Knollenberg invited me onto the House floor as his guest. The close-up view of the chamber brought back memories of exciting mock sessions at SSI, made more significant because I had just viewed an actual session and shadowed a Michigan state representative. Through the experience of shadowing Rep. Knollenberg, I was impressed by the difficulty of his job and the skill with which he does it. I was also inspired by the action, the flow of communication, and the dedicated work of lawmakers like Rep. Knollenberg. I appreciated this fascinating view of the Michigan legislature and am grateful for this excellent opportunity that has further inspired me to pursue a career in the political field.
