Spending yesterday in Richmond, I was surprised to find that nobody was (that I could discern) blogging the committee meetings. The only person with a laptop open during the gay marriage debate at P&E was a friend who I know doesn’t blog. It just seems like a no-brainer: somebody should be keeping an eye on things. So here’s what I’d like to do.
I’ll go down to Richmond one day a week for the next seven weeks. I’ll sit in on committee meetings, take notes, and blog about what I see. Some if it might be boring — most of it might be boring — but some of it might be interesting. I’ll talk to folks about the status of bills, about what’s important that isn’t being covered, and find out what regular folks like you & I can do to help support or oppose particular bills.
There’s a catch. It’s enough not to work one day a week, but to then spend money on gas and parking is a little much. It’s not the cost as much as the idea of the cost. It’s $15 for gas (150 miles round-trip) and $12 for parking. So if I can get $37 PayPaled to me each week, either $1 from 37 people or $37 from one person, then I’ll know it’s worth my time to somebody. If I only get $20 one week, then I’ll skip that week, but only need $17 to go the following week. And if nobody will pay any money, then I’ll know it’s a stupid idea.
What do you think? Should I do it? Would that be worth any money to you?
February 1 Update: So. Uh. $15 + $12 = $27. Not $37. I feel stupid.
Great idea! I’ll “contribute” 5 bucks by advising you to
park at 6th street marketplace or the coliseum.
If somebody does sponsor your Richmond travel, would they be able to specify to you specific legislation or hearings that they are interested in having you cover?
park at 6th street marketplace or the coliseum
Great advice. :) I’ve just gone for the first garage I can find. Richmond traffic confuses the heck out of me.
If somebody does sponsor your Richmond travel, would they be able to specify to you specific legislation or hearings that they are interested in having you cover?
Nope. That’s partly because I can’t promise to go on any particular day, and schedules are so hard to nail down. If a bill is supposed to be heard at 3, and it doesn’t come up until 6, hey, I had to go home. :) Also, that’s partly because I want to go see whatever is shiniest — I only know how to write about whatever I want to write about, since I’ve never done any writing on assignment. I think if I went to something I found staggeringly boring, I wouldn’t have a whole lot to write.
Jeesh, I live across the street from the Capitol and I seldom drag myself up that hill.
Yer makin’ us look bad Waldo.
Tell ya what I’ll do: I’ll buy ya lunch one day. The catch: I’ll be out of town the 17th through the 24th, so it’ll have to be some time after that.
Regards,
J.C.
I’d love to find a half dozen other people blogging from the GA over the course of the session. You’ve got to find a few minutes to do it, JC.
Lunch. Awesome. Sign me up. :)
Waldo –
Set up a paypal for this. I’ll give you $2.00 a week.
But if you promiss to do the following at least one time, I’ll give you $10 a week:
You go “shhhhhh” and everyone copies you and gets quiet and waits for something important to happen until they realize that they aren’t being quiet for any reason and they slowly begin to talk again.
I’m not going to set up a PayPal link just yet — I want to give it a day or so to see what criticism or ideas that people have — but I’d totally shush people just for sport. :)
I’m in for $5 a week.
I think its a great idea.
I can’t even put a dollar figure on the value of seeing the crazy stuff that Bob says in committee. Priceless.
I used to live a few blocks away from the capitol and I would go to committee meetings just for fun when I had a spare evening or afternoon. Every time I went I would learn something. I was always shocked at how deeply stupid some of these legislators were. Like the guy who had to have the concept of triangulation patiently explained to him during a hearing on 911 systems for cell phones.
Waldo, because you were so giddy about the prospect that Roger Coleman deserved the chance to be vindicated, even after death, (which I agree with) I thought I’d mention that his guilt was confirmed today through DNA testing, since I didn’t see a post up from you, pointing that fact out. I just assume you haven’t heard, becuase if it is justice you were after when you posted your praise of Gov. Warner for ordering the tests, then I just thought I’d let ya know that it was justice that was afforded. All the best, Walt.
I don’t think “giddy” is the word — I wrote “Good for Warner,” and “the DNA testing will confirm his guilt,” which was the extent of my comments on the topic — but, yes, I do think we should test, retest, and test again when there’s any doubt. I’m happy to hear that the guy was guilty after all.
I’ll meet you half way on this one: Absolutely agree with testing anytime, anywhere there is doubt. But this should not be a feather in Warner’s cap because that action should be expected of anyone in his position. But how horrible would it have been if he’d been innocent?…whew.
I’m with James W. – priceless – count me in for $5/week!
Waldo, that’s quite a sacrifice you are offering to make. Even though you and I are on opposite side on some issues, I appreciate your efforts.
Call me Monty Hall, but let’s make a deal. I don’t do online credit card stuff, even Pay-Pal. E-mail me with a mailing address. I’ll send you 50.00 for “seed money” for this endeavor. No special requests. Well, only one. Anything having to do with eminent domain. Pro, Con, or indifferent.
I’ll chip in for one week’s worth if you’ll promise not to write any nutty liberal things. :)
Let it be noted that two conservative bloggers have pledged two and a half week’s worth of this project. Would that happen in any other state? It’s “the Virginia Way.”
hey waldo,
if you can get the dillon law overturned i’ll pay for a two weeks…
First:
Having gone ‘on assignment’ for my day job to a particularly soporific meeting today that seemed to go on for much longer than the clock showed, I’m now reading blogs instead of doing just that …. “I went. I yawned. Repeatedly.” somehow doesn’t justify the paycheck, but writing anything else is just plain torture.
Second:
I’ll have to budget, but hey, if you had a tip jar, I’d already be contributing. Weekly reports highlighting the bright, the shiny, and the under-reported seems like a bonus too good to pass up. (And after all, aren’t the best jobs the ones where you get paid for doing something you want to do anyway?)
Waldo,
I am in for sponsoring one week @ $37. Send me an e-mail when you have the Paypal set up. Also, for those who sponsor you, I think you should link back to them in the post when you are live blogging the GA.
Cheers,
Brian
With the House rule change this year that gives as few as 2 subcommittee members the power to kill a bill with no record made in the legislative record, it would be interesting to blog about how that plays out in practice, especially on bills of interest that are meant to die in secret.
Thank you, Brian! I think linking back to sponsors is altogether reasonable, and I will certainly do that.
Amovar, I have to admit that the subcommittee rule change didn’t cross my mind when I first considered doing this but, upon reflection, I think you’re absolutely right. A little daylight might make a real difference. I’m going to make a special effort to sit in on subcommittee meetings for this very reason — thank you.