Category Archives: Dear John

Kid in a Candy Store

So, this past week I spent a few days roaming around my old stomping grounds and feeling a little nostalgic. Weepy. Patriotic. And, tired. So, very tired! I never sleep well in that town because I feel like I will be missing something. I know, call me crazy. But, I love, love love our nation’s Capitol city.

I went out there for a finance meeting for a national board that I sit on, a wonderful organization, really. However, it coincided with the swearing-in of Oklahoma’s newest Congressman so I was able to hit the Hill running.

It has been a long time since I walked around Capitol Hill, most notably the House side. Like a few years ago when the Senator and I had the children there and toured them around the National Mall. I forced them to walk from the WWII Memorial up the Hill to the House side and then across the Capitol over to the Senate side. They refer to this trek as their own personal Bataan Death March and I still don’t get that. I suppose I got all caught up in the magnificent surroundings packed chalk full of history and lost myself. They didn’t think it was funny. Especially in the heat of the summer. My first clue should have been when they asked to stop and play in the sprinkler system in front of the Library of Congress. Nice, huh!

Anyway, I pulled the same stunt Tuesday afternoon. After the ceremonial swearing-in of my Congressman (and a photo-op in front of the Speaker’s Office) I thought it would be fun to hop over to the Senate side to reminisce for a moment. And, it was, albeit the new blisters on the back of my heels but that didn’t’ keep me from enjoying every moment of my walk. I waved to the Capitol Hill Police on every corner and smiled like a happy tourist after each photo I took. I love this country and its rich history. I love this town. I felt like a kid in a candy store, at home and completely satisfied.

SW

Dear John

Dear John,

I happened to be in Washington D.C. this week, the week you officially became 2nd in line to the Presidency. I even managed to take a picture outside of your office door. The mailman thought it was sweet and moved the flag that was blocking your name out-of-the-way. The young staffer standing right inside your office must not have appreciated my nostalgia when he abruptly shut the door. I don’t know what he was thinking, but he probably shouldn’t be your front man.

I have to tell you though, the town was full of activity. It seemed like everywhere I went there were receptions and parties celebrating the official swearing-in of your newly elected Congressional members on both sides of the aisle. I know you had encouraged them to downplay on the extravagance, but seriously, they worked hard to be there and I get it….having lived through two campaigns myself, a little celebrating should never be out of the question.

I also want to commend you for instituting the first ever reading of our Constitution on the House floor. What a novel idea and something all Americans should do more often. I hope everyone in this country pays attention. I know I will.

Good luck to you Mr. Speaker. So far, you are off to a heroic start.

Sincerely, a Senator’s wife in Oklahoma

Organization

No, I am not organizing my closets, but rather it is organizational day today at the marble palace for my Senator. I have often wondered why the legislature meets on the first Tuesday in January prior to the beginning of a new legislative session…. so I asked him. My Senator explained to me that they convene at this time to officially elect their leadership. Simple enough. Never mind that the first day of the official legislative session begins on Monday, February 7th! Roughly one month later!

On that first day when the opening bell rings, the members will report to their respective chamber for a roll call. Just like in school, except they actually get paid for showing up…to the tune of thousands of $$$$ a day in my great state. I bet you didn’t know that each member who lives more than 50 miles from the capitol also gets paid a per diem for his/her travels and lodging each way. Nice, huh.

Anyway, after roll call on the opening day, the members usually caucus briefly, then head over to the House side where the Governor gives his (in this case, her) state of the state address. Following their remarks, the members might have a committee meeting or a caucus meeting depending on what is happening (i.e. what scandal is breaking) at the time and the first day of session comes to a close.

So, back to this organizational day. Here is what typically happens. The bell rings, roll is taken, the members officially cast their votes for leadership positions (such as Speaker of the House, or President Pro Temp of the Senate), a few introductions are made and they call it a day. Costing the taxpayers roughly how much again?

Now, don’t you think it would make more sense to save those tax payer dollars by convening on the first day of the actual session to do all of that? I mean, they could call roll, caucus, elect their leaders, meet jointly to listen to the Governor and put in a full days worth. Just saying.

The only thing standing in the way of my more efficient way to spend your taxpayer dollars is the Oklahoma Constitution. Evidently, the state constitution mandates that the Legislature convene on the first Tuesday of the year in what will be a new legislative session. I am sure there is a mighty fine explanation for this somewhere. I hope there is because I think I may have provided you with a much more streamlined approach for conducting the state’s business.

Okay, stepping down off my soapbox… So, today my Senator will be casting his vote for President Pro Temp of the Senate and I will be walking the halls of the Longworth Building in Washington D.C. Our Congressman is being sworn in up there and I’ll be watching it live.

Maybe I’ll get lucky and run into my new friend, John.

We’ll see.