In the depths of the Pocahontas Office Building where the delegates have their offices, visitors can see a little of the process of making laws. The General Assembly does not begin formal sessions til noon. The morning is devoted to subcommittee meetings as well as appointments with constituents and lobbyists. All those people milling around in the halls are waiting for appointments or hoping to grab a few minutes with someone. We dropped priority papers at the office of a state senator. She was in a meeting but we met with her very knowledgeable legislative assistant. There are often school children there, excited for the special occasion of meeting their delegate. Monday and Tuesday were Lobby Days for Education so there were many people promoting worthwhile causes devoted to teachers and schools. I found a single day to be intense. I can’t imagine devoting my life to this process!
You captured the essence of a day in the Virginia HOD/Senate. It's an action-packed 9 weeks. A lot has to get done in a short amount of time, and everyone gives it their best shot...from the delegates, to senators, legislative assistants and even us...low on the totem pole...administrative assistants. I totally enjoy this (for me) short-term, retirement job...which is an altogether different world from the one in which I spent my career as an educator.
