The House is at Recess

Friday, July 31st, marks the last day that the House of Representatives were in session for the summer term of the 111th Congress. This doesn't mean that this was the last day of my internship but rather it's the last day that the Congressional members would be lingering around Capitol Hill for our short tenures. I have found out though, through various conversations, that many interns will be departing the Washington, D.C. area in the next week or two. I'm included in that batch with next Friday, August 7th being my last day.

I was able to talk to the Congressman for a bit in his office today, as I was scheduled to get a picture taken with the Congressman. He asked me where I was going to school and what I was going to major in. When I told him that a major in political science is one of my leading options, he responded by saying "...why would you ever want to do that"? I have found that Congressman Moore can be witty and very easy to connect with when chatting with him.

I must say, that comment was a fun way to wrap up my interactions with the Congressman, who went on to explain that this (political science) was a similiar path he had decided on when he went to college.

The numbers of phone callers are now slowing, with the recess looming. However, I still had a few calls upset about the proposed health care legislation. As always, I've tried to politely inform them that the legislation, which it seems that the vast majority of those who are upset, aren't aware of it's components (besides the fact that President Obama supports it and/or that it may be socialized medicine), HR 3200 has been available to read in its entirety online for over 2 weeks and that the vote had already been postponed for at least a month, while Congress is out on recess. Some were relieved to hear this, while others were still concerned that Congress was still hoisting it on the public.

One caller that came my way told me that they were either dropped or disconnected as they were talking with one of my fellow interns. She went on to tell me that the intern she was speaking with was arguing with her and not listening to her opinion. She expressed the concern that we were taking away her voice. I tried to, very diplomatically, tell her that as interns we were not there to argue with her or try to change her opinion and that we would definitely pass along their concerns, but we do want to help point out misconceptions that callers may have heard when they are in the process of sharing their comments with us. While I think she understood that message, she wasn't happy when I tried to point out, per her comment, that there is no mention of abortion at all in HR 3200 nor the licensing of, or support for euthanization. This caller, and others, have told us that their sources were infallible and that I/we were not being honest with them.

Oh well, to each their own.