A foremost strategy of an effective legislator

There are amazing benefits and learning opportunities available to those who closely monitor the state legislative process. I have learned much about human behavior and individual character through observation during those times when policy makers are under pressure.

Policy makers may work on legislation for months, if not years, only to see their efforts come to an screeching halt when their bill is not scheduled for, or is defeated by, a vote of the House or Senate.

The stress is compounded during legislative deadline weeks when legislators can vote on 150 to 200 bills during a single week. That sometimes requires them to work late into the night, and results in sleep-deprived policy making — the absolute worst, and completely unnecessary, type of policy making.

Historically, much politics occurs during deadline week such as legislators attempting to kill legislation by running out the clock and making it impossible to consider some bills before the deadline. One lawmaker used to go so far as to send out gleeful emails taunting other legislators with the possibility that their bills wouldn’t be heard because time would expire before they could be considered.

This activity isn’t limited to the House chamber. The House lobby fills up with lobbyists, special interests, government officials and grassroots activists. These dueling groups send in requests to legislators, calling them out to be lobbied for and against numerous proposals.

As all of these factors collide, the careful observer can receive insight into a legislator’s true character by observing how he conducts himself during this time of pressure, specifically when that person is faced with the defeat of of his legislation.

Some are unable to manage the hurt and disappointment and seek retaliation against those who killed or voted against their proposal. I absolutely understand how they feel because I have been in that position a number of times. However, I think the most highly of those who are able to shrug off defeat, even when they were right on the merits, and keep working to do the right thing in other ways and through other bills.

Those who respond poorly to defeat risk making long-term enemies, thus creating opposition to future efforts.

Based on my observations, there is a secret to success in the legislative environment and one of my primary principles of legislative service: a legislator should never retaliate against another legislator who votes against his bills. Whenever possible, a legislator should not remember the names of those who voted against him. This allows him to interact with and relate to the other legislators without remembering their specific votes.

Time and again I have observed that a legislator who works against a good proposal on one day becomes a solid supporter of another proposal the next day.

The ability not to take failure personally, and to forget the identities of those who opposed the proposal, no matter how harsh or unfair their actions, provides the legislator with a valuable tool and an important strategy for effectively legislating in the future.

Thank you for reading this article. Your interest and input are much appreciated. Please do not hesitate to email Jason.Murphey@hd31.org with your thoughts and suggestions.