Business cards are the paper currency

My notes on meet and greets:

One important lesson I have learned during my stay in Washington, DC is the importance of business cards. I have witnessed the exchange of hundreds of business cards each day at my internship. It's the peanut butter to the jelly for introductions. "Hello, my name is Caitlin; here is my business card." If you do not have a business card handy, the awkward one parcel trade takes place. Both sides of this event are left feeling underwhelmed, and trust me as an intern- not a good start! After the paper currency (business cards) dance has been completed the next step is to talk about your organization that you work for. This is my favorite part of meet and greets. It is during the discussions that you are able to make important connections to people. Who would have thought that nuclear disarmament can include physicians and the negative consequences of radiation on the health of people? (hat tip: Isabel Pennings) These random connections are important to explore during meet and greets. I have been able to connect to people when I explain the mission of AHRI and how legislation is an important part to our success. Now I have a stack full of business cards in my possession, with hopes that their value will pay off in the future.

My name is Caitlin Coleman (front center with blonde hair), I am a rising senior at the college of Saint Benedict. Majoring in Political Science and trying to fit in a concentration in econ. I am interning at the Air-conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) this summer. My experiences here in Washington, DC have been extensive. One day I am on the hill, listening to committee hearings. The next day, I am writing policy memos on current legislation. Life in Washington, DC is exciting, energetic, and fun. I love every minute here and am sadly counting the days until I leave. 

Interesting World

While situations of the European debt crisis are becoming more and more serious, developing nations, such as China, are increasing its presence in the international societies. In both international conferences held in Brazil and Mexico, the expectations for these developing countries to offer financial supports to increase the liquidity of the international societies seemed really high. As the developed countries’ economic hardship which started after the US’s Lehman’s fall still continues, the international societal order has been gradually and firmly changing. Particularly, rapid growth of China both economically and militarily not only worries the East Asian and Pacific region, but also it threatens the U.S. interests in the region. As many of scholars call 21^st Century as the “Asian Year,” many incidents have happened in the region, particularly China-related issues, interests me greatly.

“China is going to subsidize $6 million to other developing countries in order to provide technologies and human resources for the prevention of desertification. Also, we will provide facilities for the prevention of forest land.” Friday June 20, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao announced this during his speech at the Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In addition, Prime Minister Wen promised to provide 200 million yuan (about $ 31.5 million) in order to support Africa and other Least among Less Developed Countries’ climate control programs. While the amount of money is not the greatest amount, China emphasizes its support as the south-south cooperation among the other developing countries. Moreover, according to Asahi Shimbun (one of the major Japanese paper companies), Prime Minister Wen hosted an unofficial assembly with European ministers for the environment. During the assembly, Prime Minister Wen emphasized China’s position as a developing country by saying “my country cannot do anything without improving the job situations and level of living for the population of 1.3 billion.” As China often describes itself as “the biggest developing country”, China has been asking developed countries for financial and technological supports in order to improve its environmental conservation programs and continue its growth rate at the same time. Adversely, in the middle of European countries’ severe economic crisis, China has been increasing its number of supports recently.

While China, in a sense positively increases its presence in the international society, its expansion of the power generates instability in the East Asian and Pacific region. When the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his group recently visited the region, Panetta showed his concerns in terms of U.S. interests in the region and its ally’s security issues due to China’s expanding power. This clearly shows that “the biggest developing country’s” rapid increase of its military capacity destabilizes the regional politics.

On June 24^th, Philippine authorities of countermeasures against disaster announced that Philippine fishing boat sank after it got hit by a Chinese-ship-like boat in the South China Sea. As a result of the accident, one of the crews died and four went missing. (Philippines relations with China have been really tense and strained over Chinese claims on the Spartly Islands in the South China Sea.) After Philippine authorities tried to clamp down a Chinese fishing-ship near the Spartly Island in April, the tensions between the two nations increased and there are some opinions in China to take some military operation against Philippines. Similarly, in September 2010, a Chinese fishing boat crashed into a Japanese patrol ship near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa prefecture, territory Japan claims as its own. After the incident, on April 16 2012, Ishihara Shintaro, the governor of Tokyo, said that the Tokyo Metropolitan government is planning to buy some of the Senkaku Islands. This may cause another debate and lead to another international incident in the region.

While “the biggest developing country” rapidly increases its influence economically and militarily in the international society, the power balance which was established over the course of history in the last 50 years is gradually and firmly changing. Particularly, in terms of China’s military expansion in the region, since the U.S. has many of its allies in the East Asia and Pacific region, its foreign policy toward the region draws a lot of international attention. I am excited to continue to pay a closer attention to the region and how the region will transform itself as a result of the gradual changes.

A story for the grandkids...

Only now having finally become accustomed to the D.C culture, we get to experience a true DC heat wave. And is it ever hot, almost 104 degrees last week! 

This last week was an especially significant and what is sure to be a memorable week in American Politics, with the Supreme Court handing down one of their biggest decisions in years.

 

On Thursday June 28th, I was fortunate enough to take the morning off from work to be outside the Supreme Court as they issued their decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, (Sec. HHS).  While I was eager to see the outcome of the case, I was also excited to be a part of history, as I had studied and followed the case throughout my time in Constitutional law classes.  I was able to get a prime spot standing in front of the press corp. to await the decision. 

As one could tell from the varying news sources that once the decision was there was mass confusion as to what the almost 100 page decision actually meant. (It’s quite hard to decipher Supreme Court language in only a matter of minutes) From out of nowhere some one in the press started screaming “mandate down, mandate down”. As you can maybe guess cheers erupted from the TEA party crowds and those opposing Obamacare. However, as more news came out from the press and the internet namely SCOTUSblog, it was determined that at least from what we could find out that the mandate was upheld as a Tax. Curiously enough during oral arguments the Obama Administration had tried to argue that the penalty for not buying health insurance was not a tax.

While the final decision was a blow to the protections of the Constitution, it did help to incite the Conservative movement to elect a new president and members of Congress, especially in the Senate where votes would be crucial to repealing the ACA.

Another memorable moment from Thursday morning, after the decision was read I was standing in front of Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), in which he gave one of the most eloquent responses. Noting how depressing this verdict was he said “It is now up to the American people to decide”. I think this clearly sums up the coming election and how important it will be for people to get out and support candidates that they agree with.

            This next election cycle will be very important, in all races. Working with a state policy organization, I know that states are the fundamental battle grounds in protecting against the growth of big government. My internship site is different from others in that it acts as a legislator’s research service since most of the state legislators are part-time and have a very small staff. We do not seek to influence votes, only to provide the necessary resources and information for those state legislators in both parties that views align with the Jeffersonian values of limited governments, free markets and federalism.

Falling off the Economic Cliff

While my office deals more with state policy issues, I have been able to see some overlap between federal policy and state policy. For instance one of the most recent examples that I have seen through my internship experience is health care reform. While the federal government was busy debating and trying to pass the Affordable Care Act, many states had already set in motion there own types of health care reform, many parts of these laws would protect the states from the costly mandates and requirements of the Patient Protection and Afforable Care Act.  Many states have been able to effectively limit through their own legislation the reach of the federal government into what is considered strictly state issues. This is just one example of how I have seen connections between my internship and the “real world”.

Being in D.C has given me a chance to see more sides of a policy argument as there are thousands of organizations that feature speakers, panels and write publications about these issues. This has been great to be able to gain a spectrum of knowledge about the topic from experts and those who work in the field. One of the domestic policy issues that I have seen more about lately is the issue of the growing federal deficit. More and more, I have been reading articles from organizations that have studied and analyzed the current economic situation of the US, in which many believe that if we do not change our current economic track we are sure to fall off the “fiscal cliff” or to end up in a situation very similar to Greece.

In an article from the American Enterprise Institute, policy experts agreed that if “ Congress and the president do not act together to forestall the automatic outcomes, the United States will head into recession, with growth shrinking significantly through the first half of 2013”. The Congressional Budget Office in a statement has agreed that economic policy actions must be decided on before Congressional recess unless there is a want for automatic “across the board sequestering” cuts.  This would prove such a fiscal shock to an already weak and unbalanced economy that it “would reduce taxable income, increase unemployment, depress consumption and retard growth”.

 Fortunately, there is a solution that has been endorsed by several different groups including the Simpson-Bowles Commission, the Rivlin-Domenici task force and the Gang of Six. This plan includes a “combination of phased and balanced spending cuts, including all areas of spending, and tax increases phased in to replenish the revenue base that is now the lowest as a share of the gross domestic product in nearly 60 years.” However, with the partisan stalemate occurring in Congress and between President Obama, this seems like a lofty goal, especially as almost all Republican House members have signed the Grover Norquist “No new Taxes” pledge and most Democrats would be apposed to any reform or cuts to welfare and entitlement programs.

With this deep partisan divide, there seems like little wiggle room for compromise. Without quick action a series of events could culminate which would induce an economic storm of sorts, leaving a struggle economy behind for the next president to deal with who ever that may be.  The American political class has become so entrenched that they have refused to cooperate, bickering with each other, all while the problem sits unsolved. 

We need a fresh new class of citizen legislators that are willing to go in and actually accomplish what they promised while on the campaign trail. The establishment of congress, on both sides, needs to take a stand and act before we experience another deep recession. We can not leave these problems to linger only for the future generations to have to dig themselves out of a massive economic hole. 

Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

Particularly relevant in my field of interest, Farm Bill 2012 is a hot topic in Congress, the environmental sphere, and the daily news. However, there should be even more dialogue around Farm Bill 2012 because it is a domestic policy that affects every single American, namely every American stomach.

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive bill that creates the legislative framework for agriculture policy. Including policy initiatives ranging from rural development to nutrition to trade and taxes, the Farm Bill remains in effect for five year periods and is currently approaching its expiration this September. Congressional members of agriculture committees and agricultural leaders are in the process of hearings to assess the success of the previous Farm Bill and make the necessary changes to be included in Farm Bill 2012. 

At one of the seminars this week, upon hearing I worked for an environmental think tank, an alumna of St. Ben’s interjected: You’re following the Farm Bill, aren’t you? It was less of a question and more of a command. I, thankfully, had been following news on Farm Bill 2012, otherwise known as the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, so I could honestly respond that I did have some idea about the recent hearings and the $23 billion budget cut, the bulk of which coming from eliminating direct payments to farmers. However, not all of my classmates had been following the Farm Bill - I was asked by numerous peers what on earth the “farm bill” was. I have found this lack of knowledge is not uncommon - often agricultural policy flies under the radar, it is often something taken for granted, not explored.

Farm Bill 2012 provides a service that should not be taken for granted. Four out of every five dollars in the Farm Bill goes to a popular program citizens do not usually associate with agriculture: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), popularly known as food stamps. The Farm Bill is generally a fairly bipartisan piece of legislation, but partisan politics begin and end with money. An amendment by Republican, Rand Paul, sought to cut $45 billion per year in SNAP spending. Democratic, and chair of the Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow, firmly opposed the amendment stating it was “outrageous and would go completely against the commitment we as a country have made to help those who truly need it.”

After talking to many former Hill staffers, I have learned that the House is where bills go to die. This is not good news for Farm Bill 2012, as the House has not even begun to draft its own farm bill. I understand how Hill staff, from interns to LDs, can become jaded with the legislative process, especially with something as basic and essential as food production. But, the beauty of being an environmental studies major is a mandatory optimistic outlook on the future. As the farm bill debate continues, I have confidence that a compromise can be found - not necessarily a compromise that supports conservation, organic agriculture, or sustainability as much as I would hope - but inevitably, a decision will be made and I will be able and ready to draft an op-ed on the outcome.

Stand right, walk left

Sitting in a classroom learning about the inner workings of our government is far different from sitting on the Metro and experiencing the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital. In my first couple of weeks in Washington, D.C. I have learned one important lesson: Stand right, walk left. This applies not only to escalator etiquette, but to D.C. as a whole. There is no such thing as standing still, and even when you try, everything else moves around you.

It is hard to grasp the speed at which things happen in D.C. from a textbook. My walking speed has increased immensely from its normal Minnesota pace. People are always on the move, but that does not mean that everyone can keep up. Through my “civics” understanding of the federal government, I assumed all D.C. workers were efficient, intelligent, and passionate. I have been slightly disenchanted from this romantic notion. This does not mean that my coworkers do not possess these positive characteristics, but the degree to which they are exercised is variable. 

One of the most exciting aspects of D.C. is the global community. In academia, there is a logical emphasis on Americans in the nation’s capital, but there are also vast amounts of international contingents. My fellow interns represent all sides of the globe and bring their own unique views on global issues (in the case of my organization, poverty eradication, food security, and climate change). My supervisor represents a global perspective in a different way; she works remotely from locations across the map. It is unlikely I will ever have the opportunity to meet her in person because her travels take her from South Africa, to Mexico, and soon Rio de Janeiro for the Rio+20 Earth Summit. This international aspect of my work is fascinating, but lack of face-to-face communication often makes work less efficient due to the constant stream of emails and lack of firsthand mentorship. Also when there are many views representative of many different cultures and ideals, it takes much time and many revisions to write an opinion piece that is universally agreed upon. Despite the decreased efficiency, I greatly appreciate the “world” element of my position at Worldwatch Institute. It is a very apparent reminder that Washington, D.C. not only serves as the capital of the United States, but also lives up to its nickname, the “Center of the Universe.”

Due to the speed at which tasks must be completed, passion is sometimes sacrificed and spread thin. I was slightly disappointed to find that the opinion pieces written by my organization are not individually written with thought and care, but rather are mass-produced. One of my tasks this week was to find local examples from the city where we submitted op-eds and then “customize” our message to the newspaper’s readers. I was also disappointed to find that editors are unlikely to publish these sorts of articles, and my hard work at editing the op-ed pieces is often in vain.

I did witness genuine passion this past week from our country’s members of Congress. One night this week, I noticed the flag was still above the House of Representatives around 9:00. A friend and I walked over to the Capital Visitor Center and made our way to the Gallery. Although not incredibly interesting to me, the representatives debated the budget for various items falling under the umbrella of transportation. One thing that is often not talked about is the around the clock, somewhat mundane, debates. Seeing and hearing these representatives speak to their peers, I acknowledged that these issues are not mundane to them. The congresspeople spoke with passion and eloquence.  I discovered there must be more to a representative’s motive than re-election - as discussed in the Mayhew’s “Electoral Connection” - because even though they did not present on a sexy topic that would be covered in the press the next day, the representatives cared enough to fulfill their duties with passion and to the best of their ability at 10:30PM on a Wednesday night. The clock never stops for the needs of the American people. 

I look forward to discovering more examples of voids between the “civics” understanding of government and my real life experiences in D.C. Meanwhile I will try to keep up and remember to stand right, walk left.

From 40 lb Fish to a Giant Fake Horse: Week 3

Well after this week, I can honestly say that this will not be a short journal entry. Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go deep sea fishing with the former CFO of the House, John Lawler, and Mr. Turch. I also brought Eddie and Mary along to partake in the experience. Mr. Turch arrived at the house around 4:30 on Saturday, and we made our way to Sandy Point, VA, Mr. Lawler's home.

The next morning, we were up by 4am and ready to make our way to the marina to begin our full day of fishing. Mr. Turch had informed me that it's rare that they ever catch large fish when they are out on the Chesapeake Bay, but it happens from time to time. Not having a clue what to expect from this experience, I decided it would probably be a long day in the boat with not much excitement. However, I love being on the water so I was not complaining!

After being out for about 3 hours, we were trolling when both my line and Eddie's went down. There was so much commotion on the boat that I had no idea what to do, so I grabbed the nearest line and started to do what I thought was the best way to reel in what I thought was probably a boot or some other debris. I found out very quickly, from Mr. Turch, that I was reeling this "thing" into the boat by the most difficult means possible. After I was instructed on the best way to reel the "thing" into the boat, it was much easier to say the least.

And then I saw the biggest fish ever at the crest of the wave right in front of the boat, all I could think was, "O shit, this is where it ends!" I thought that I would certainly be pulled over, but I just kept reeling more and more line back to the boat. After what seemed like an hour, I had finally reeled a 40lb red drum to the boat. Mr. Lawler came over to my side of the boat with the net, and in his excitement, grabbed my line. When Mr. Lawler grabbed the line, it snapped in half and the fish swam away as fast as it could.

Mr. Lawler felt extremely bad about what he did. However, I was in awe of the fact that my chicken arms were able to reel a 40 lb fish to the boat. I know consider that a lifetime achievement for me.

When I returned to the office on Monday, I knew I had quite a few tasks to complete. Mr. Turch had given me the task of setting up a meeting for him. I took on this task with great pride because it was one of the first more important tasks he has given me. Everything went as planned with the calling. Some people were easier to contact than others, but by the next day, everyone that was supposed to be at the meeting was there. Mr. Turch informed me I had done a great job, and hopefully, that means I will be doing a little more for him in the future.

A second task that I had to complete this week was to attend Barbara Boxer's press conference on the transportation and reauthorization bill. She spoke of the House needing to get its act together and pass this completely bipartisan bill that is being prevented from being passed by a few House Republicans. The bill passed with 74 votes in favor in the House, and I find myself getting angry with the fact that the House will not pass a bill that will create 3 million jobs domestically. It really does not make sense!

Once the news conference was over, I made my way back to the office to finish some of the preparation for the Monocle event on Thursday and the "Cottage" event on Friday. Everything went smoothly with those preparations as well. On Thursday, the Monocle reception went well. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and I broadened my network here in D.C. Mr. Turch also had me give a short speech to introduce the student speakers, which I though went quite well.

By Friday, I was just ready for the weekend. This week had been so busy, and all I wanted to do was sleep. However, the event at Mr. Turch's home was that evening, and I could not wait to meet more of his friends. The event at his home went extremely well. Only one minor incident with the breaking of a wine glass, but everyone seemed to be having a delightful time. I was also put in charge of giving tours of Mr. Turch and Meridel's artwork throughout the home. I had heard they were collectors of many artworks, but I was not expecting a life-size horse called, "Brandon Spectrum's Nightmare", to be encompassing an entire bedroom! It was definitely one of the most interesting pieces of their collection.

All in all this week went by very quickly with a few minor hiccups. It was great that I was able to meet so many great people and broaden my network. I also now have a piece of writing for my portfolio. I had written a memo on the Boxer press conference, and Kevin will be putting it in the David Turch and Associates newsletter. Needless to say, I feel very accomplished after this week