Then again...

Community News Service, UM School of Journalism

HELENA – A smile radiated from Sarah Laszloffy’s face as she recited
the oath of office on the floor of the Montana House of
Representatives. At age 21, she was now the youngest member of
Montana’s 63rd Legislature.

“It was surreal,” said the new Republican lawmaker from Laurel. “It’s
really humbling, and I can’t believe that it’s actually happening.”

Three other freshman representatives are also in their 20s, and all
sit on the Republican side of the aisle.

Their presence here stems from a fresh wave of enthusiasm for
conservative principles. In particular, the House’s four youngest
newcomers this session bring economic priorities to the table.

Fiscal problems as catalyst

The country’s current economic status has a number of young
conservatives worried about their generation’s future, including 28-
year-old Rep. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale.

“A lot of us were going to college at that time and saw the career
fairs just disappear,” Galt said. “No one was hiring anymore, and a
lot of [graduates] came out struggling for jobs.”

As a result, he said, young people realized the GOP could do more for
job growth. He believes smaller government and fewer taxes will let
private industry do what it does best: employ people.

Party leaders also recognize the role fiscal concerns played in
mobilizing their younger colleagues during the 2012 election cycle.

“They feel differently about the national debt because it will impact
them more than the older generation,” said Rep. Christy Clark, R-
Choteau.

Clark sees young conservatives increasingly involved in crafting the
party’s future, as demonstrated by their interest in the state’s
upcoming GOP convention in June.

For the first time, young Republicans have asked Clark, who serves as
vice-chair of the Montana Republican Party, to organize workshops
geared toward people their age to cover topics like grassroots
organizing and media outreach.

Opportunity for party collaboration

The Legislature’s youngest Democrat, Rep. Bryce Bennett of Missoula,
28, said he appreciates the new abundance of young lawmakers across
the aisle, but that doesn’t mean young people have abandoned the
Democratic Party.

“I think that there’s one party that’s really investing in the things
that matter to young people,” Bennett said, referring to his own. “We
want to have opportunities for jobs – good paying jobs – and we want
affordable education so we’re not taking on a bunch of debt when we
leave college.”

He hopes some of the attention his young, conservative colleagues
place on those issues will spread to the rest of the GOP. He sees
opportunity to partner on proposals that would benefit youth around
the state and is already building relationships to start that
dialogue.

The young Republicans have found willing partners among Democrats –
two are already working with members of the other party to draft bills
to implement stricter child sex trafficking laws and to protect
personal information online.

A steep learning curve

The youngest members of the House have lofty goals for the session,
yet they recognize they must make educated decisions about unfamiliar
topics.

While veterans on the committee better understand the intricacies of
the tax structure, 24-year-old Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer, R-Superior,
said he has noticed the freshmen – whether they’re 20 or 60 – are
asking the same questions to get up to speed.

“There’s a point where we’re all on the same playing field regardless
of age,” he said.

So far, veteran lawmakers have welcomed and helped train newcomers,
said Laszloffy, whose father, Jeff, served in the statehouse and is
now President of the Montana Family Foundation.

“It’s great because I’m gaining their wisdom and exchanging ideas,”
she said. “And having our faces on the floor helps remind the
legislative body that there’s more than just their generation to think
about.”

http://www.explorebigsky.com/newspos...oung-lawmakers

On Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:24:58 -0800 (PST), Tim wrote:

Then again...

Community News Service, UM School of Journalism

HELENA – A smile radiated from Sarah Laszloffy’s face as she recited
the oath of office on the floor of the Montana House of
Representatives. At age 21, she was now the youngest member of
Montana’s 63rd Legislature.

“It was surreal,” said the new Republican lawmaker from Laurel. “It’s
really humbling, and I can’t believe that it’s actually happening.”

Three other freshman representatives are also in their 20s, and all
sit on the Republican side of the aisle.

Their presence here stems from a fresh wave of enthusiasm for
conservative principles. In particular, the House’s four youngest
newcomers this session bring economic priorities to the table.

Fiscal problems as catalyst

The country’s current economic status has a number of young
conservatives worried about their generation’s future, including 28-
year-old Rep. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale.

“A lot of us were going to college at that time and saw the career
fairs just disappear,” Galt said. “No one was hiring anymore, and a
lot of [graduates] came out struggling for jobs.”

As a result, he said, young people realized the GOP could do more for
job growth. He believes smaller government and fewer taxes will let
private industry do what it does best: employ people.

Party leaders also recognize the role fiscal concerns played in
mobilizing their younger colleagues during the 2012 election cycle.

“They feel differently about the national debt because it will impact
them more than the older generation,” said Rep. Christy Clark, R-
Choteau.

Clark sees young conservatives increasingly involved in crafting the
party’s future, as demonstrated by their interest in the state’s
upcoming GOP convention in June.

For the first time, young Republicans have asked Clark, who serves as
vice-chair of the Montana Republican Party, to organize workshops
geared toward people their age to cover topics like grassroots
organizing and media outreach.

Opportunity for party collaboration

The Legislature’s youngest Democrat, Rep. Bryce Bennett of Missoula,
28, said he appreciates the new abundance of young lawmakers across
the aisle, but that doesn’t mean young people have abandoned the
Democratic Party.

“I think that there’s one party that’s really investing in the things
that matter to young people,” Bennett said, referring to his own. “We
want to have opportunities for jobs – good paying jobs – and we want
affordable education so we’re not taking on a bunch of debt when we
leave college.”

He hopes some of the attention his young, conservative colleagues
place on those issues will spread to the rest of the GOP. He sees
opportunity to partner on proposals that would benefit youth around
the state and is already building relationships to start that
dialogue.

The young Republicans have found willing partners among Democrats –
two are already working with members of the other party to draft bills
to implement stricter child sex trafficking laws and to protect
personal information online.

A steep learning curve

The youngest members of the House have lofty goals for the session,
yet they recognize they must make educated decisions about unfamiliar
topics.

While veterans on the committee better understand the intricacies of
the tax structure, 24-year-old Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer, R-Superior,
said he has noticed the freshmen – whether they’re 20 or 60 – are
asking the same questions to get up to speed.

“There’s a point where we’re all on the same playing field regardless
of age,” he said.

So far, veteran lawmakers have welcomed and helped train newcomers,
said Laszloffy, whose father, Jeff, served in the statehouse and is
now President of the Montana Family Foundation.

“It’s great because I’m gaining their wisdom and exchanging ideas,”
she said. “And having our faces on the floor helps remind the
legislative body that there’s more than just their generation to think
about.”

http://www.explorebigsky.com/newspos...oung-lawmakers

Nice.


Salmonbait

--
'Name-calling'...the liberals' answer to a lost argument!

You know you live in a Country run by idiots if... You have to have your
parents signature to go on a school field trip but not to get an abortion.