Summer 1995
Behind The Scenes in Congress
Meet Kiel Weaver, Sen. Rod Grams' Ag Point Man
by Tracy Sayler, Communications Specialist 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.
After Rod Grams (R-MN) was elected to the Senate last year, about 1,000 people applied for four legislative assistant positions available in Grams' new office.
Kiel Weaver was selected as one of the legislative assistants (commonly referred to as LAs). His qualifications include experience as an LA for then Rep. and now Gov. George Allen of Virginia, and also Rep. Bill Goodling of Pennsylvania.
When applying for a job with a Minnesota Senator, it doesn't hurt to have Minnesota roots. Although Weaver has lived mostly in Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, part of his youth was spent in Bemidji, and some family members are originally from Crookston and Halstad.
When asked what subject area he wanted to cover as an LA, Weaver chose agriculture, although he also monitors environmental and judicial issues.
Weaver says he's always had an attachment to agriculture. He took ag classes in high school, and was active in 4-H and FFA. Growing up, he worked weekends on a farm and spent summers working for his dad's building company, which had many rural customers.
Following is a typical day for Weaver as an LA:
8 a.m. Scan the news for policy developments, particularly agricultural, environmental, and judicial issues.
9 a.m. General staff meeting with Sen. Grams to discuss pending issues and legislative agenda items.
10 a.m. Review faxes, Minnesota newspaper clippings sent by the state office; again, taking particular note of issues within his beat.
10:30 a.m. Meet with constituents who aren't able to visit with Sen. Grams personally (often unscheduled drop-in visits).
Afternoon: Along with the Senator, meet with constituents who have prescheduled visits. Also, monitor committee actions.
It's Weaver's job to filter farm-related information to Grams. So how does Weaver stay up to speed on such a wide array of pressing issues?
"That's where groups like the Minnesota Wheat Growers come in. It always hits home to use information back from within the state." Weaver is quick to point out, however, that information from opposite viewpoints is equally considered. "Whether you agree with someone on an issue or not, they deserve to be heard."
Party affiliations are often put aside for cooperation on common issues, such as agriculture. A bi-partisan, farm policy coalition, aimed at farm-state Senate lawmakers who don't serve on the Senate Ag Committee, provides a twice-monthly forum on ag issues for staff members.
Weaver says he confers often with ag LAs from other offices, including Rep. David Minge (D-MN), Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN), and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND).
Don't think that your opinion won't matter or that you're merely "preaching to the choir" when contacting a Congressman from your state.
Weaver says opinions from constituents are greatly valued. For example, Grams (who Weaver describes as "serious and straightforward") prefers to see as many letters from constituents as possible and looks for supporting material to use in legislative testimony.
A ranking committee member should be willing to listen to your concern (writing to the Senate Budget Committee chairman about funding a certain program, for example) even if that lawmaker doesn't represent your home state. In such cases, however, be sure to also duplicate the message to your own home-state Congressional members.
Be objective and to-the-point when communicating with a Congressman. "Nasty communication doesn't leave a good mark, so be cordial," says Weaver. Provide details and examples about how particular legislation may not only affect you or your business, but also others in the state.
With Sen. Rod Grams of Minnesota, Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, and Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, it's obvious there's going to be room for confusion. Excuse the ag LA with the freshman Senator of the bunch for sometimes using that to his advantage.
"In phone calls, I'll say I'm from Sen. Grams' office, leaving out the first name Rod and letting the other end think (1996 presidential candidate) Phil," says Weaver. "They put you right through."
EDITOR'S NOTE: There's been a few personnel changes since our previous issue's feature on MN ag LAs. Brian Ahlberg has rejoined Sen. Wellstone's office, replacing Claiborn Crain as ag LA. Also, Rob Larew is now handling the ag LA duties for Rep. Collin Peterson's D.C. office. He replaces Hannah Richert, now working for USDA Secretary Dan Glickman.)
AG CONTACTS FOR SEN. ROD GRAMS
Kiel Weaver
Legislative Assistant
Senator Rod Grams office
261 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Ph. 202-224-3244
David Ladd
State Constituent Representative
MN Office, Sen. Rod Grams
2013 2nd Ave N
Anoka, MN 55303
Ph. 612-427-5921