Behind The Scenes in Congress

ISSUE 11
Spring 1995
Behind The Scenes in Congress:
Getting To Know your Congressional Legislative Assistants

By Kris Versdahl, Assistant Director; Minnesota Wheat Council

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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.

Political involvement is more than just asking your Congressman for action on a certain issue or particular bill. It's the development of a working relationship with elected officials and their staffs, and providing them with the kind of information and input they need to make good decisions on your behalf.
The agricultural legislative assistant in your Congressman or Senators office is constantly seeking out information on agricultural issues. In a sense, they serve as an extension of their boss's eyes and ears.

When you call or write your Congressman, chances are, they're the ones who will get your call or read your letter first.

While the role of the agricultural legislative assistant can vary from one office to the next, generally, they are responsible for gathering information on agricultural issues, monitoring legislation that is pending or moving through committees, drafting speeches, working with attorneys to draft amendments, and communicating with constituents, among other things.

According to Claiborn Crain, legislative assistant to Senator Paul Wellstone, "It's the legislative assistant's job to work with the Senator to make sure that he or she has the background information they need to make the decisions they're required to make." He says that means they have to look at the issues from all different angles.

A typical day for Crain and the other legislative assistants (known as LAs for short) involves reviewing articles and reports, reading through the mail, returning telephone calls, meeting with constituents, writing issue briefings, visiting with the LAs in other offices, and attending committee hearings.

Hannah Richert, agriculture LA for Congressman Collin Peterson, says she tries to consolidate information and highlight the issues as much as possible. In a sense, she's like a traffic controller at a busy airport, letting the Congressman know what's on the radar screen.

"With the Contract [with America] everything around here is in overdrive, so it makes our job of collecting information a little difficult at times," says Richert. "You're not quite finished with one thing, and you have to start on the next issue."

Mark Rokala, agriculture LA for Congressman David Minge says his job is to advise the Congressman on legislative issues relating to agriculture, environment and ag trade issues. "Everyone has their own network for gathering the information they need," says Rokala. He relies primarily on grower groups, lobbyists, constituents, and the mail.

These legislative assistants definitely run at a hectic pace. Although the official hours at all three of their offices are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., none of them could remember the last time the came in to the office that late or left that early.

So what possessed these individuals to do what they do?

Mark Rokala says he made the decision to come to Washington because he wanted to work on the 1995 Farm Bill and to be involved in agricultural policy at the national level.

Rokala is no stranger to Minnesota wheat growers. He worked on the MAWG staff in Red Lake Falls for two and a half years, and then served as MAWG's state lobbyist in St. Paul for a year before taking the position at Minge's office.

Richert, on the other hand, says her love of politics led her inside the beltway. "I have always loved politics. I was always involved in student government, and volunteered for campaigns when I was in college. I was just amazed at our political process and wanted to take part in it.

Hannah has worked for Collin Peterson since the beginning of January. Prior to that, she served as former Kansas Congressman Dan Glickman's ag LA.

Crain is the veteran LA of the three. He began working in Washington in 1977 for Congressman Jack Hightower from Texas. Prior to that, he worked for a small town Texas newspaper. When Hightower was seeking re-election, he asked Crain to help him work with small town media. When he won his re-election bid, Hightower hired Crain on his Washington staff.

Regardless of how they got to Washington, all three agree it's important for growers to get together to voice their ideas and concerns on policy issues.

"The biggest challenge agriculture faces is speaking with a unified voice," says Crain. "It's hard on any elected official whether it's Paul Wellstone or anyone else, when different groups from an industry come in and ask them to choose between the different groups."

"Minnesota wheat farmers, in addition to working with their neighbors in North Dakota, South Dakota and other wheat producers around the nation, also need to work with the other commodity groups and general farm organizations," says Crain. "Somebody from Minnesota will understand that you have a mix of agriculture and what works for one commodity may not work for another."

Richert advises growers to communicate issues and ideas through member organizations like MAWG. She says individual letters of how an issue affects a grower is also very helpful. "It's those kinds of things that Congressman Peterson looks for," says Hannah. "Because in hearings, he likes to bring up examples from his district and how proposed legislation affects them specifically."

Rokala says the best thing growers can do is to concentrate on issues that affect their farm, whether it be corn, soybeans, environmental issues or whatever. "And then work within the organizations or groups that deal with those issues."

"That's not to say that individuals can't have an influence," says Rokala. "A well thought out personal letter on how an issue affects a grower is very effective." He also says growers should back up the work their organizations are doing. "It has a big impact when an individual, whether they're a member of the organization or not, calls or writes to support a position the group has taken on an issue," says Rokala. "It helps reinforce that the organization is credible and is headed in the right direction."

Crain says that growers should also attend town meetings and other functions where they have direct access to the member of Congress.

"It also helps Senator Wellstone if you can convince the folks in Moorhead, or Crookston or Roseau, say nothing of Minneapolis and St. Paul, of the importance of a strong viable agriculture to them," says Crain. "You pull the wheels from under agriculture and you start hearing all kinds of hollering from bankers and suppliers and business people that may not have thought they had a big stake in agriculture."

The next time you write or call your Congressman or Senator, remember that the agricultural LAs are the behind-the-scenes information gatherers. They are the people wheat growers should get to know to help shape the future of farm policy.

Hannah Richert
Legislative Assistant
Congressman Collin Peterson's Office
1314 Longworth HOB
Washington D.C. 20515
202-225-2165

Mark Rokala
Legislative Assistant
Congressman David Minge's Office
1415 Longworth HOB
Washington D.C. 20515
202-225-2331

Claiborn Crain
Legislative Assistant
Senator Paul Wellstone's Office
717 Hart Senate Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-5641

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
Spring 1995

ISSUE 11 Spring 1995	Behind The Scenes in Congress: Getting To Know your Congressional Legislative Assistants By Kris Versdahl, Assistant Director; Minnesota Wheat Council

Library Home E-Mail Back Prairie Grains is the official publication of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, South Dakota Wheat, Inc., and the Minnesota Barley Growers Association.	Political involvement is more than just asking your Congressman for action on a certain issue or particular bill. It's the development of a working relationship with elected officials and their staffs, and providing them with the kind of information and input they need to make good decisions on your behalf. The agricultural legislative assistant in your Congressman or Senators office is constantly seeking out information on agricultural issues. In a sense, they serve as an extension of their boss's eyes and ears. When you call or write your Congressman, chances are, they're the ones who will get your call or read your letter first. While the role of the agricultural legislative assistant can vary from one office to the next, generally, they are responsible for gathering information on agricultural issues, monitoring legislation that is pending or moving through committees, drafting speeches, working with attorneys to draft amendments, and communicating with constituents, among other things. According to Claiborn Crain, legislative assistant to Senator Paul Wellstone, "It's the legislative assistant's job to work with the Senator to make sure that he or she has the background information they need to make the decisions they're required to make." He says that means they have to look at the issues from all different angles. A typical day for Crain and the other legislative assistants (known as LAs for short) involves reviewing articles and reports, reading through the mail, returning telephone calls, meeting with constituents, writing issue briefings, visiting with the LAs in other offices, and attending committee hearings. Hannah Richert, agriculture LA for Congressman Collin Peterson, says she tries to consolidate information and highlight the issues as much as possible. In a sense, she's like a traffic controller at a busy airport, letting the Congressman know what's on the radar screen. "With the Contract [with America] everything around here is in overdrive, so it makes our job of collecting information a little difficult at times," says Richert. "You're not quite finished with one thing, and you have to start on the next issue." Mark Rokala, agriculture LA for Congressman David Minge says his job is to advise the Congressman on legislative issues relating to agriculture, environment and ag trade issues. "Everyone has their own network for gathering the information they need," says Rokala. He relies primarily on grower groups, lobbyists, constituents, and the mail. These legislative assistants definitely run at a hectic pace. Although the official hours at all three of their offices are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., none of them could remember the last time the came in to the office that late or left that early. So what possessed these individuals to do what they do? Mark Rokala says he made the decision to come to Washington because he wanted to work on the 1995 Farm Bill and to be involved in agricultural policy at the national level. Rokala is no stranger to Minnesota wheat growers. He worked on the MAWG staff in Red Lake Falls for two and a half years, and then served as MAWG's state lobbyist in St. Paul for a year before taking the position at Minge's office. Richert, on the other hand, says her love of politics led her inside the beltway. "I have always loved politics. I was always involved in student government, and volunteered for campaigns when I was in college. I was just amazed at our political process and wanted to take part in it. Hannah has worked for Collin Peterson since the beginning of January. Prior to that, she served as former Kansas Congressman Dan Glickman's ag LA. Crain is the veteran LA of the three. He began working in Washington in 1977 for Congressman Jack Hightower from Texas. Prior to that, he worked for a small town Texas newspaper. When Hightower was seeking re-election, he asked Crain to help him work with small town media. When he won his re-election bid, Hightower hired Crain on his Washington staff. Regardless of how they got to Washington, all three agree it's important for growers to get together to voice their ideas and concerns on policy issues. "The biggest challenge agriculture faces is speaking with a unified voice," says Crain. "It's hard on any elected official whether it's Paul Wellstone or anyone else, when different groups from an industry come in and ask them to choose between the different groups." "Minnesota wheat farmers, in addition to working with their neighbors in North Dakota, South Dakota and other wheat producers around the nation, also need to work with the other commodity groups and general farm organizations," says Crain. "Somebody from Minnesota will understand that you have a mix of agriculture and what works for one commodity may not work for another." Richert advises growers to communicate issues and ideas through member organizations like MAWG. She says individual letters of how an issue affects a grower is also very helpful. "It's those kinds of things that Congressman Peterson looks for," says Hannah. "Because in hearings, he likes to bring up examples from his district and how proposed legislation affects them specifically." Rokala says the best thing growers can do is to concentrate on issues that affect their farm, whether it be corn, soybeans, environmental issues or whatever. "And then work within the organizations or groups that deal with those issues." "That's not to say that individuals can't have an influence," says Rokala. "A well thought out personal letter on how an issue affects a grower is very effective." He also says growers should back up the work their organizations are doing. "It has a big impact when an individual, whether they're a member of the organization or not, calls or writes to support a position the group has taken on an issue," says Rokala. "It helps reinforce that the organization is credible and is headed in the right direction." Crain says that growers should also attend town meetings and other functions where they have direct access to the member of Congress. "It also helps Senator Wellstone if you can convince the folks in Moorhead, or Crookston or Roseau, say nothing of Minneapolis and St. Paul, of the importance of a strong viable agriculture to them," says Crain. "You pull the wheels from under agriculture and you start hearing all kinds of hollering from bankers and suppliers and business people that may not have thought they had a big stake in agriculture." The next time you write or call your Congressman or Senator, remember that the agricultural LAs are the behind-the-scenes information gatherers. They are the people wheat growers should get to know to help shape the future of farm policy. Hannah Richert Legislative Assistant Congressman Collin Peterson's Office 1314 Longworth HOB Washington D.C. 20515 202-225-2165 Mark Rokala Legislative Assistant Congressman David Minge's Office 1415 Longworth HOB Washington D.C. 20515 202-225-2331 Claiborn Crain Legislative Assistant Senator Paul Wellstone's Office 717 Hart Senate Building Washington D.C. 20510 202-224-5641
Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine Spring 1995

Behind The Scenes in Congress: Getting To Know your Congressional Legislative Assistants

Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine Spring 1995

Behind The Scenes in Congress:
Getting To Know your Congressional Legislative Assistants

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
Spring 1995