RE: Collecting my thoughts

[Rod Cameron <rodcm@aol.com>]

Jim, you would think that enough citizens who were "mad as hell" would give lobbyists a run for their money (no pun intended).  But, in fact, lobbyist work 24-7 to track legislation, communicate with legislators, craft amendments and legislation, and so on.  The way bills move through the pipeline makes it next to impossible for a citizen to keep up and act in an effective and timely manner.  Knowing when a bill is being passed out of committee or being amended or even coming to a vote is no small feat.  So an answer your question, which strikes at the heart of getting citizens back in government, may be to simply make the process of leglislation somehow more accessible, simpler, less veiled by procedure.  Even in Iowa where all leglislation is posted on the internet along with complete bill histories, bill sponsors, and committee members and their e-mai addresses-- a lobbying effort can often deteriorate into ill timed messages and a disorganized message.