Lengthy debates, committee meetings and floor sessions where legislation is passed are what most people envision when they think of a state Legislature. West Virginia’s Legislature is authorized, under the State Constitution, 60 days a year to meet and pass laws necessary to govern our state. Special sessions can be called by the Governor if deemed necessary and interim meetings are held throughout the year, but the visible realm of the Legislature exists in those 60 days. Yet when these two months are up and the media’s attention is drawn elsewhere, the job of a legislator is not finished.
West Virginia has a citizens’ legislature, one that is comprised of our neighbors and colleagues, who are compelled to enter a life of public service. Because they serve in a part-time Legislature, lawmakers have other occupations outside of the Capitol. And from bus drivers, farmers and coal miners to attorneys, nurses and insurance agents, lawmakers truly represent the diverse population and personalities of all West Virginians.
When lawmakers leave the Capitol to return to their communities and jobs, their commitment to public service does not end. In many ways, it begins over again. Connecting with their constituents is at the heart of a legislator’s job, offering a pleasant break from the strict rules of procedure that govern committee meetings and floor sessions.
“You could stay on the road just attending meetings,” said one Senator, who has served in the Senate for 25 years.
Attending local governmental meetings, school functions, receptions, and visiting senior centers and the Boys and Girls Club, to mention a few, are a big part of how lawmakers stay involved in their communities and connect on a personal basis with their constituents.
According to one of the longest serving members of the House, there are numerous council meetings, boards of education meetings and special issue meetings on a local level that state legislators from the area attend throughout the year.
The Delegate views answering constituents’ questions and addressing their problems as the biggest part of a legislator’s job once he/she has left session.
“If a person takes the time to stop and talk to me about a problem, I certainly have the time to talk to them. Or if they take the time to write to me I certainly have the time to answer that letter, whether I call or write back. That is just a part of my job,” said the Delegate.
Both lawmakers have noticed the changes in the Legislature during their years of service. The advancement of technology and the prevalence of Internet use have allowed people to be connected daily to legislative activities, eliminating many questions about the status of measures. They both see the increased ability for quick communication and information as a positive improvement. But the Senator points out that while it removes frequent inquiries on the status of legislation, it opens new avenues of questions as constituents want to know the reason for a bill’s status.
“The [legislative] process is a thorough one, but it is not a quick one,” the Senator said.
The public sees some bills pass in a day, such as with the mine safety legislation this year. But under normal legislative circumstances, following rules of procedure would mean at least a week for a bill to pass one chamber, after it has left a committee.
Another change the Senator observed is that the public seems to feel more connected to their lawmakers with the increased use of e-mail and the Internet.
Legislators are not just the representatives of the districts they serve, but are frequently the only face of government people see. “The public see us as the go-between from them to all governmental agencies,” said the Delegate.
Legislators are public figures, a persona they do not leave in the Capitol when session ends and they walk out the doors and down the steps.
“You do get approached when you are just out with your family. But it just goes with the job. As the elected representative for our areas, we are the voice for the people of our district, and people want to make sure that voice is echoing their thoughts,” the Delegate noted.
When working with constituents, one of the largest misconceptions lawmakers run across is a general lack of understanding of the entire legislative process. Many people, when they come to observe the floor session, are taken aback by the lack of debate on individual bills, not realizing that the serious debate, work and reworking of bills happens in committees, observed the Delegate.
“Constituent relations is almost an educational process too,” said the Delegate, a former educator.
“In general people don’t realize the necessary collaborative process between the House and the Senate,” the Senator observed. “The Senate is not responsible for making all legislation nor is the House.”
“The public often seems to think that the job of a legislator is only part-time, which technically it is, but it is part-time through the entire year, not just 60 days a year,” said the Delegate. “It is commonly thought that we only work 60 days and the rest of the time we have nothing to do.”
The year round aspect of a lawmaker’s job is a time of preparation, allowing them a chance to live and experience the problems in the areas they represent, talk with constituents and gain important insight on issues. Then, when the yearly session rolls around, lawmakers have a clear vision of the agenda for their area.
The year-long commitment by delegates and senators is not something that is entered into lightly. Many of the lawmakers are drawn to these positions from the love of working with the public on a daily basis.
After retirement from a career as an educator, “I just wasn’t ready to quit,” said the Delegate. “A lifetime as an educator gave me a good background to work in the Legislature. In education you feel that you are a servant, helping young people solve their problems. That is what I do now, just on a larger basis.”
