When I visited the General Assembly on Tuesday I ended up wandering into the House Democratic Caucus meeting. I’d seen it on the daily calendar, and thought it might be interesting, having absolutely no idea of what might go into such a meeting.
A security guard pointed me towards the right room. When I opened the door, I found a room perhaps 50% larger than my living room. There were a couple of dozen chairs lined up, squeezed together pretty close, and a table at the front of the room. A projector cast a PowerPoint presentation onto a screen, and Del. Brian Moran, the chairman, stood at a podium. Seated (and standing) were a couple of dozen delegates, many of whom looked familiar. There was no space for me to sit, so I stood by the door with a few other people.
Now, if you’d asked me how I’d feel if I walked into a room with two dozen members of the House of Delegates, a few people in suits, and me, I’d say damned uncomfortable. I’d expect I’d walk right out, because clearly I’d be in the wrong place. But nobody looked at me cross eyed, and nobody gave me what the hell are you doing here vibes. Clearly this was an open event, so my being there was totally cool. I’ve been to precinct meetings less open. In fact, every precinct meeting I’ve ever been to has been less open.
I stood there for fifteen minutes while the meeting rapidly went by. Delegates discussed a couple of bills, including Del. Jack Reid‘s HB 1047, considering the question of civil liberties and conflicts with existing bills. It was friendly, informal, and pretty brisk. My delegate, David Toscano, sat at the table in front eating lunch. Others talked quietly in the back. A representative from John Montgomery’s campaign stood to give a status report on the day’s turnout for the special election, describing it as low all around, including in Chris Peace’s top precincts. Before I knew it, Del. Moran declared the meeting done, and everybody made their way out of the room to get to their committee meetings.
Open, efficient, friendly. Very surprising. Very impressive.
Want to visit the House Republican Caucus meeting? You can’t. It’s closed to the public.
I have always thought that Caucus meetings ought to be for planning legislative strategy. Making them open defeats that purpose. I know it’s not very “sunshine-friendly,” but I think the GOP is right on this one: regularly announced caucus meetings should be exempt from FOIA, and the Parties would do well to use that time wisely. As it is, the Democratic Caucus meeting seems to serve no particularly useful function. Then again, with Del. Joannou in there, it’s not like you can keep anything from the GOP anyway. . .
I can only assume that a great deal of the actual negotiation that occurs within the party takes place in private conversation. I suspect that’s true for both Democrats and Republicans.
Were you wearing a suit? If you wear a good suit you can go anywhere you want and you won’t get asked too many questions.
A clipboard and a whistle around the neck have a similar effect in other situations. People automatically defer to the guy with the clipboard and whistle. It’s just ingrained in them from years of gym class.
I believe that FOIA stipulates that whenever three or more members of the General Assembly get together, the meeting has to be open to the public. I seem to recall some of the Budget Bigwigs (Chichester, Wardrup, etc.) trying to meet in relative privacy with Governor Warner during 2004 only to have the press get wind of it and demand that it be open. As a result, much grandstanding ensued where otherwise real compromise might have been accomplished.