The End: Thursday and Friday

Thursday I continued my role as a runner. On the democratic side, there are so many of us that if you complete 5 or so runs before lunch, you cannot do any more. They try to spread them out so one or two people aren't doing all the runs while others sit. I did a handful before and after lunch so that I would keep my tally relatively low, while not leading in runs either. It paid off. In the hour and a half before we got off work, I completed seven runs to the office building. Friday, I worked votes. They debated the healthcare bill earlier in the week but the vote was pushed until after the recess. They voted on the appropriations to the department of the interior "and all related agencies" before lunch with a series of amendments that were not completed the previous night. I made a few runs after lunch and dinner and grabbed the spot to work the democratic page desk for late-shift. From 5 to 7ish, I had numerous runs called in and we were extremely busy. Many of the offices were getting their runs in before the vote on the cap-and-trade energy bill that they debated after dinner while I worked the desk. One congressman called it and I quote "most historic piece of legislation to come to the floor in the last one-hundred year." The press gallery was full and the gallery was full of tour groups while the congressmen debated the crucial bill. The importance of the energy bill was show in the number of congressmen that were in attendance. Usually there's maybe five to ten or so while there is a debated and all their staffers. On Friday night, the staffers were sitting on the railings of the house floor because it was so crowded. John Boehner, the minority leader, brought a 300+ paged amendment to the floor and read it for an hour and a half to inact a filibuster. Many of the offices were freaking out and calling me to ask why he was able to do so. He was able to do so because leaders are given an uncapped amount of time. When finished speaking, the democrats started yelling and screaming and scolded the republicans when something so important to debate was being made a joke. After the chaotic debate, The bill had passed with a vote of 219-212. Even with seeing the fact how this law could damage industries, this law will not just force companies to think gree, but act green. It was a fitting end for my page experience to witness something so historic while being on the floor in my final night. I worked until 8 on my and we ate pizza in the members' lounge. I took my last walk home with Blair, Sam, and Mrs. Gremillion. Once I stepped my foot onto the pavement, I felt a raindrop on my forehead. It had begun to rain.

Friday, Weekend 2, and Tuesday, Wednesday (W3)

Friday, I worked the voting machine again for bills on more appropriation bills and an impeachment.  There were four articles they were voting on individually for the impeachment of a Texas district court judge, i believe, who had apparently molested some of his staff members.  I also had the late night shift on Friday but, since it was Friday and all the congress members leave for home, I didn't have to report work after dinner.  So Friday went smoothly.  We went to 6 Flags on Saturday in Maryland.  It was sort of awkward considering there were a bunch of little kids running around and bugs bunny and tweety were dancing but we made due.  It was also flash raining so were were forced to occasionally dash under a ring toss stand or into a Johnny Rocket's.  It would start raining so quickly and randomly it was like a snap of your fingers.  We made a sprint for Batman and Superman when they let these two little kids "turn the power on," and we didn't take it into account that it was raining.  Anthony epically wiped out with his body nearly parallel with the ground.  Now, Tony is like 6'6" and 210 lbs so it was a pretty ridiculous.   We ended up riding Batman twice and the Joker twice while dodging the rain so it wasn't so bad.  After lunch it cleared up and before we left, Blair and I got henna tattoos.  Mine's real small and on my leg ma so don't freak out.  One kid got a "property of the GOP" on his arm and Blair got "Teddy" (our nickname for him coming from teddy-blair) on his arm.  We got back from 6 flags around 4ish and we all slept when we got back.  Sunday, we stayed in.  I did wash and wrote two papers which were my homework from school.  One was about an action plan about an issue in our town and I chose to write about the old Acme.  My other was on a bunch of leadership question Dr. Gonzalez asked us to address.  After we all watched Animal House.  On Monday, they weren't in session we all relaxed for the whole day in the "member's only " day room.  We watched the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I really don't remember much because I fell asleep, as did about 20 other people.  They resumed session on tuesday with the appropriations and began talks on the monster healthcare bill.  I went with another page on an annex run to the Ford Building before lunch.  The Ford Building isn't considered to be in the immediate  House Capitol Complex because it is a couple blocks west of the Rayburn building but we took the shuttle to and from the building.  The Ford building was pretty awkward because it is mostly made up of the random offices for security and some legislative offices.  The building itself is very nondescript compared to the  marble laden office buildings and the sculpted Capitol.  I worked in the office of legislative duties again for late-night and ran the votes machine.  They were voting on the Appropriations for the DOD and the interior.  I was somewhat disappointed to find that I'm going to be doing runs for wednesday and thursday.  However the day did end in some hope when I realized I am doing votes again on Friday when they  could be voting on the ever-important healthcare bill. 

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (W2)

On tuesday, I did a little of everything. I made a few runs to the office buildings and I used the underground subway system too which was cool. After lunch I worked the Democratic Desk until the actual desk person arrived for lunch and oversaw some other pages going on runs. When not doing runs, I listened to the discussion and this week is all about appropriations. They decide how much money (our money!) goes to each of the department and agency. Basically, anything that receives government dollars. I worked late-night and I was a voter page. They started some of the voting on the appropriations and my job was to print out the voting packets. They explain how each member voted on what amendment or bill and we compile the packets to give to the parliamentarian, the press gallery, the floor tally clerk, the chief tally clerk, and other various places thoughout the capitol building. There were only 3 votes so I wasn't too busy. Wednesday was the day of the 48th Annual Congessional Baseball Game for Charity so the house went into session only for a small amount of time. I made more runs again in the morning, worked the desk after lunch and we left like a half an hour early for the game. The game was at the new Nationals Stadium and I was somewhat disappointed in the stadium. I heard so many good things about it, but quite frankly there really isn't much there. There's one bottom level and then four smaller ones and it looked small compaerd to the Bank's three giant levels. There really aren't any seats in the outfield and the only place to eat besides the routine stands is a little resturant undernearth the scoreboard. They don't have a Harry the K's or a Bull's barbeque or anything creative. But the game was totally an experience. It was Democrats vs Republicans and the Democrats won 15-10. Patrick Murphy, our rep, struck out in his only at-bat. We were screaming "Shimkus Smash" for Congr. Shimkus and "Git-mo strikes/hits." We were sitting right behind the dugout and with some congressional staff members that were from chicago and we were screaming the entire time. I also cought a foul ball and tried to get Eric Cantor (the Minority Whip) to sign it but he wouldn't (he's a Republican anyway haha). Either way, It was awesome to see a bunch of congressamn actually doing something active compared to the usual stereotype of a bunch of old, fat men. Today, I was the luckiest page on earth. Going to sleep at 2 am every night was starting to catch up with me and I need some sleep. Today, I was assigned as a flag page. We deliver flags from the Flag office to the offices, who then fill them out for a certain constituent to be flown over the Capitol, and once we're done, we're allowed to go back to the Page Residence Hall. I got into work after school at 9:20 and delivered 35 flags in 50 mins. I walked out of my last office at 10:30. I was pumped to leave so early but Mrs. Keating told me I couldn't leave after lunch. Either way, I left early completely passed out after taking a shower. I woke up when my roommate Blair from Louisiana come back from work. Okay Im going to Subway with Darrell from SC so I gotta run and hurry back for curfew at 10. I'll post again on Sun or Mon.

Friday, Weekend, and Monday (W2)

On Friday, I did very little.  I was a floor/door page so I opened the doors to the House for the speaker that morning but no one throughout the entire day called for a floor page all throughout Friday.  A floor page waits until a member or whoever presses one of the buttons one the seat in the on the floor.  We have a system at the Democratic Page Desk that tells us where the seat is but I never got to use it.   It kind of worked out because the session was short on Friday.  Nearly all of the members leave DC for home on Friday and don't return until early Monday.  While I was listening to the dialogue, I started thinking about what a democratic system really is.  Is it where the people have the ability to choose or should they be provided and helped by their government if needed?  They were discussing health care and I was split on whether a government-run system would be better or the current plan based on choice.  A government-run system would allow citizens to continue the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness by not having to worry about their health.  But, the essence of choice and election is lost.  But in the plan of choice, some just simply cannot afford it and they lose care for their health by those who govern them.   Anyway, we got off work early and a bunch of us took the metro across town  to Pentagon City where we all pitched in for a beat up gamecube.   It doesn't work half the time but it was cheap and kills some time.   Saturday, my roommates and I, along with the room across from us and a few other kids hung around while mostly everyone went to a gay pride parade on the mall.  Many of us were asked why we didn't go and we answered simply with this:  We have nothing against those of a different sexual orientation we just have no interest in going to a parade to support them.  It's true and was nice enough to not offend some of the homosexual people here.  I guess if I am going to be in DC a lot more I should get used to this.  After that fiasco, we went to Chinatown and saw The Hangover which was absolutely hilarious.  Sunday was "mob day."  We formed an "Italian mob" simply out of boredom and I earned title of Luigi.  We did...well...you know...carried out business...Don't worry.  It was all in good fun and no one got injured.   On monday, I was a statement page.   I'm not sure if I explained this already, but basically I collect the papers the Democratic speakers talk from after introducing a bill/resolution/amendment/motion and take it up to the gavel (center) where the clerk of the house sits.  Legislative business didn't start until 2 pm so I did little until then.  But it is pretty funny at the font size some of the members use on their statements.  Some of the text is in like 35 size font.   I also went to the bathroom in the member's bathroom "by accident."  Let's just say the bathroom is nicer than anyone's house in Newtown.  It's nearly all marble with a view outside of the capitol building and a shoe-shiner.  It's ridiculous.   Legislative business was ridiculous as well.  Everything was about renaming post offices around the country for various people or sumo wrestling or Bill Cosby or Hank Aaron.  No joke.   I wonder why the general public thinks congress "wastes time."   But there were interesting parts.  They talked about Afghanistan with reconstruction, condemning North Korea (as if that was a new policy), and recognizing the Winston Churchill memorial in Fulton, Mizzou.   Now being the good AP Euro student I was, I knew immediately of the significance of the town, because Fulton was where Churchill gave his infamous Iron Curtain Speech.   I also thought about human nature when listening as a statement page.   I realized that our congress was created and formed the way it is as a response to views of human nature as "bad."  Many quotes from school monday morning and last week talked about how congress "doesn't work" on purpose.  It's job isn't to create laws, but to prevent bad laws from being formed.  That's why it goes into tedious processes, takes forever to react, is split into 2 houses, etc.  So was congress formed out of fear?  Was it created the way it was to prevent not create?  Did our founding fathers see things in Europe that infringed on our human rights (bill of rights) and looked to prevent it rather than encouraging the good?  I'm not sure...you tell me....

Nancy

Oh, and I forgot.  We also took a class picture with Nancy Pelosi today, but we all swarmed her after the pictures were done for handshakes, etc and her staff members didn't really like that too much....oh well...

Tues, Wed, Thurs

So basically I found out that I am going to be doing runs for this entire week just by the way the schedule that was set up by Mrs. Keating (the democratic page supervisor) works out.  I did do "annex" on wednesday but, obviously, the day I do annex we get no runs to the annex.  Being "annex" is like being a special runner where you make runs to the senate, the senate office buildings, or the Ford building (some random office building).  So on wednesday I did normal runs like tuesday and today.  While they were voting on tuesday, I chatted with Congressman Kildee (MI) and Congressman Frelinghuysen (NJ).  Nancy Pelosi and Ron Paul also walked by me while on the way to vote.  Wednesday was late night for my group so I was a statement page and ran the democratic page desk.  As a statement page, I grab the papers the congressmen use to speak and take them to the gavel (the front of the house desk at the front of the room) to be put on the congressional record.  Once session moved to special orders I moved behind the desk where we take calls for runs, assign runs, and keep track of the runners.  Its a lot easier because you literally do not have to move and when your feet are blistered and sore from running, like mine unfortunately, its the best place to be.  I have also been grabbing the congressmens' business cards when I make runs to their rooms and I have probably accumulated about 20 so far and I started on wednesday.  On wednesday some of the amendments were to:  1. Require Obama to tell taxpayers what their dollars are for when sent to the UN in some foreign relations bill  2. Reorganize taxpayer dollars when sending criminals to their home countries that literally don't even want them  3. Let Americans overseas take part in censuses and voting.  These were all I listened to for like 30 mins as a statement page.  Today, I made 7 runs from offices to the cloak room, delivered 10 flags from offices to the flag room, and also delivered one from the office of the clerk, with barney frank's signature on it, to nancy pelosi's office.  The cloak room is just the command center for our party where some congressman chill and other pages answer phones for them.  I also stopped by Congressman Brady's office today.  I was making a run in the Cannon building with a kid from Cali and we passed his sponsor's office, nancy pelosi, and mine (Brady).  I met his secretary who helped me get together my application and who was way too ecstatic to see me.  I talked with Brady for a few minutes and he told me to stop by any time.  I forgot to do wash to day but I guess I'll do it tomorrow.  I did get my dry-cleaning out so we're moving forward in the wash department.  I don't really know how to end this post but I'll end it with what Anthony Siviglia from FL says.......negative ghostrider (while wearing aviators). 

Weekend and Work Day 1

Okay, for not posting on the weekend, I had a difficult time trying to find an internet connection. But anyway, saturday after the SAT's at had a 4 hour drive with a 3 year old and a 9 year old. Not fun, considering my 9 year old bro suddenly yells "I have to throw up!" and we're on 95. I was sleeping on the seat in front of him and I nearly jumped out of my seat. When we got in to our holiday inn at like 3ish, we walked around. I have pics that i'll upload later. My 9 year old bro had a false alarm and nearly threw up on the steps of the Dept of the treasury which i'm pretty sure they wouldn't have appreciated. Anyway, move-in was at 8:30 am Sunday morning (while all of you were hopefully sleeping) and I had a fantastic Holiday Inn cinnamon bun/french toast that I would highly recommend. My roommates are Blair from louisiana, Darrell from South Carolina, and Cameron from Mississippi, and i'm just about the closest thing to a city-boy here, which is sad considering I live in the suburbs. Half of the kids and none of my roommates have never been on a metro, and i've used our septa rails plenty of times and the subways system when I was little. After unpacking it was basically orientation, and my mom got a free tour of the capitol and visited the house floor. We all were ushered with family members in full uniform (you'll see pics) to the House Cannon Office Building to a caucus room where we had to literally give an oath of office; the same one the congressmen take. After some usual orientation things, some friends and I walked to CVS, which we had much difficulty finding, and walked to the capitol to map our route for tomorrow morning. Okay so this is totally my luck. It about 9:30 and my roommates and I were all half asleep, completely exhausted. Then, we hear "pages, will room 112 [my room] come down for kitchen duty." It's basically a communal living style so we all have assign days to clean up certain areas by room. So, on the first night we had to clean the kitchen that was filthy from parents earlier in the day during orientation. But I guess it was good to get it out of the way. This morning was school. Yes, school. But the school is on the top floor of the library of congress which is a once in a lifetime experience. But the funny thing is that the elevator names it just the "attic." The first week is american gov't, then leadership, and international relations during the final week...and Brandon from tennessee says, "hello!" and has the giant tongue in the pics. We went to the new visitors center after school and were issued our highly official and highly high-tech government ID badges. After lunch it was our first work day. I'm not going to say too much because this is going through government servers so I don't want my blog to be erased from history. Let's just say part of my duties today was to deliver packages to Nancy Pelosi's office or the "Office of the Speaker." We helped the House recorders keep track of what the speakers say and collect items or documents that the speakers would like to contribute to the recordings of what goes on that day in the house for reference. We also run letters, packages, or really anything to either the capitol or the three office buildings by using the secret government subterranean tunnels whenever an office calls our desk on the house floor. To concluded my day I took a metro ride with some friends to hard rock cafe, but the wait was too long so we went to some random mexican place where one of the workers was completely passed out on one of the tables. Oh, and Karen says "hi"....shes from NJ which I think smells, especially Newark, but I'll put that aside for now. So, for my first day it was extremely interesting. Half of which I can't mention due to government restrictions. But my first work day as a Capitol staff member was better than I could have imagined.

"Proofread by Karen"