General Assembly Grapevine

On one side of 9th Street were the pro-choice supporters. On the opposite side of the street, literally and figuratively, a band of pro-life advocates held forth. The two sides chanted slogans back and forth over the roar of city traffic.

Meanwhile, inside the General Assembly Building small groups of young people quietly and methodically made their way through the halls, from office to office making their case. Despite their calm yet pleasant demeanor, one could not miss them, resplendent in matching dark blazers and vivid red turtlenecks with a subtle RU on the collar.

They were students from Radford University in Richmond this day to lobby for their school. They were led by President Penny Kyle, no stranger in the halls of state government, and aided by former state Senator and a member of the Radford Board of Visitors, Brandon Bell.

Face it. Radford is not one of the “flagship” universities in the Commonwealth. So like Avis, they must try harder. Not only did they try harder, they tried better than most lobbying groups. Like anyone who has turned on a television or read a newspaper in the last month, they know the economic situation that state and nation face. But that didn’t deter them from making their presences known to lawmakers in a positive way.

Meanwhile, the phones continued to ring off the hook and the email inboxes of legislators filled up faster than administrative assistants and aides could answer them. There are always so-called hot button issues in politics. But global warming would be man-made for certain judging by the intensity of these issues in Richmond.

The social issues, many centered on abortion, are always present. However, the stalemate between the pro-choice majority in the Senate and pro-life majority in the House of Delegates lead both sides to a realization that their efforts are unlikely to make major changes this year.

Put gun rights, a perennial, on the list. The Virginia Tech tragedy elevated feelings to a new level with opponents of the gun show loophole expressing themselves as fervently as the most intense Second Amendment supporter.

Nothing lights up the board more than smoking this year. The reframing of the indoor, or restaurant, ban as a health issue coupled with Governor Kaine’s linking the tobacco tax to health care funding has constituents seeing red.

New to the list this year is autism. The frustration of parents over the unavailability of insurance coverage understandably bubbles over in their conversations with legislators and staff.

What is difficult for many citizens to understand, much less appreciate, is the pressure cooker lawmakers and assistants work in during the session. Unlike the U. S. Congress, the staff consists of usually at most three people. The aides’ offices are cramped; the lawmakers’ are small, accommodating maybe six or so guests comfortably.

As the parade of visitors, constituents and non-constituents alike, continues day after day, the staff is hard pressed to reply to the calls and emails while meeting with the guests. Add to that the intensity with which some advocates express themselves and you get a volatile mix. House and Senate aides from both parties report a passion among constituents this year unmatched in recent memory. Unfortunately, some of that passion is counterproductive.

So what’s a person to do when he feels so strongly about an issue? Express it, of course. But once is enough. Repeated or threatening phone calls, emails or visits do more harm than good.

More importantly, get to know your legislators before they go to Richmond. Participate in their constituent outreach activities. Call, phone and write March through December and your individual message will get more individual attention.

Citizen input is absolutely essential to a healthy democracy. But when it is delivered in an appropriate and respectful manner it is most appreciated – and most effective. Miss Manners, where are you?