Yesterday was a rough day at the Capitol for my Senator.   He has a strong and consistent track record when it comes to protecting children.  He has championed legislation that protects them from those who wish to do them harm.  And, I’m talking the worst kind of harm….unthinkable crimes.

Well, it just so happens that those criminals eventually get released from prison and live in our city.  Yes, there are laws that regulate where they can live in relation to children and they are supposed to register that address with local law enforcement. …. but do they?  Do we really know where they are?

I know I am like most moms out there who are vigilant when it comes to protecting their children.  I know there are a handful of registered sex offenders who live in close proximity to our house.  I have looked them up online.  I know their names, their crimes and their address and I like having that information.  But there are so many more out there who don’t register this information.  These people are the outcasts of our society and they are justly treated as such.

In my city, however, there is a ministry that tries to help these people, even though I think they are beyond help.  They have a multi residence facility, if you can call it that, where these criminals live together.  They are registered with the law and we know where they live and who they are…  kind of like a leper colony.

I think there is a benefit to having them all together in one place.  Easier to track, easier to find and more likely they will register their location with local law enforcement.

Well, the city doesn’t want them there anymore.  And, I would be remiss if I didn’t say I wouldn’t want them there either.  Like most people, I don’t want them anywhere….anywhere where they can harm children.  However, unless we sentence them to a lifetime in jail, they will be somewhere and we should be vigilant in monitoring them and their behavior.

So, my Senator took on City Hall yesterday.  He made local and national news for his ’emotional’ plea to not slap this ministry with frivolous restrictions which could potentially force this group to disband.  The bill failed on its first attempt as it should have.  It was a bad piece of legislation.  But, the city brought in the big guns to have it reconsidered.  They had three five lobbyists working it on the ground to get the votes when the floor leader brought it back for reconsideration.

One has to wonder what the motivation was for the city to take such extreme measures.  The land this ‘group home’ sits on is not desirable. I’m sure time and money will tell.  But for now, this ministry which helps the dregs of our society will most likely fold and there will be unintended consequences.  Horrible, unintended consequences.  These offenders will leave because they have to go somewhere and they will blend into our neighborhoods.  They will go unnoticed. They may or may not register with the local law enforcement and they will undoubtedly harm more children.

My Senator will be watching.  He is a consistent advocate for children down at the marble palace and I am extremely proud of him for voicing his opinions where their safety is concerned.

SW

Hilarious.

Fun.

Bipartisan.

Successful.

The Senator’s dinner last night at our house was certainly all of those but man can those guys throw back some food!

They also know how to have fun off the Senate floor which is a good thing, considering this was a bipartisan venue.  Just think the farmer and the cowman can be friends…ebony and ivory….I didn’t think anything of it but these guys did and they played it….as in played a joke on my Senator.

Evidently, two of them constructed a story in which they didn’t get a long..at all. They were supposedly in a huge feud over tractor parts and weren’t speaking to each other. It’s important to note that my Senator really doesn’t know much about tractor parts – which is why they picked it, and that the two in disagreement were members of the same party which made this “feud” even worse, I guess.  But, you get the picture and they played the part of feuding members to the hilt.  One of them even sent my Senator a note indicating that they both could attend the Senator’s dinner but ONLY if they didn’t have to sit together!

Needless to say, they had my Senator in the palm of their hands and he was a little worried about how this dinner was going to go….

You can imagine how funny it was when my Senator learned it was all a sham.  He was laughing so hard at how he had worried about it all day and talked about it all day to anyone who would listen.

They really had him going and enjoyed every minute of it!

I loved it too.

They also came bearing gifts….which was a nice touch.  Then, they laughed, played pool, watched a basketball game, ate dinner….laughed a whole lot more.  Really, I think our place had momentarily transformed itself into a fraternity house of sorts.

Much to my surprise however, they even quasi-cleaned up their mess.  Meaning they put all their dishes in the sink and trash in the trash can.  And, they thanked me for the delicious dinner.  Their momma’s would be so proud.

All in all, this is a nice thing the Senator can do for the out-of-town members and he is already planning the next one!  I can’t wait to see what they will think up next.

SW

The Senator invited some of his colleagues over for dinner tonight.  No, it is nothing like the Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy movie.  No scandals, no controversy.. I mean, it is a bipartisan dinner but everyone gets along….I think?

Anyway, the Senator has entertained his fellow Senators several times before at our house, and I have to admit it has proved to be a really nice evening. You see, many of his fellow legislators live too far from the Capitol to drive home every night, so being able to enjoy a home cooked meal has its advantages.  Plus, there are no lobbyists on the guest list or any politicking on the agenda…just good food and fellowship and they all seem to have a lot of fun.

This year I had hoped to cook up something a little different just to keep it interesting.  In the past I have always made my Senator’s favorite, King’s Ranch Casserole….because it is his favorite meal and pretty much fool-proof.  I mean, if you can read you can certainly make this casserole and it always tastes better the second time around….I will be eternally grateful for that!  In fact, the first year we did this, the members were having so much fun they didn’t eat until way past 8:00 p.m. and the casserole was still edible! So it made sense to stick with what works.

Now, the King’s Ranch is cooked upon request. And, just like clockwork….no sooner had I hoped to change it up a bit this year, did the Senator mention the King’s Ranch Casserole.  Hence, the King’s Ranch is back by popular demand and today will be spent in the kitchen! (And, cramming all the clutter in closets….but, don’t tell anyone I said that!)

Here is a photo of a few from last years crew….

Can’t wait to see who walks in the door tonight…..

SW