A daylong conversation with Rep. Tom Flanigan
Stained glass, budget books, and the 'Fire Alarm'
Brennan Stebbins
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: State
It's 8:15 a.m. and Rep. Tom Flanigan (R-Carthage) is already deep into the first of several packets concerning tax credits.
Far too early in the day for such business, in my mind. But Flanigan pores through the thick binder, jotting down notes with a pencil, pausing for a sip of coffee.
It's been nearly six months since Flanigan was elected, more than three months since he was sworn in. In two weeks, his first session as a legislator ends.
***
Flanigan eats a small breakfast at his seat in the committee room in the basement of the Capitol. For two hours he takes notes, refills his Styrofoam cup and follows testimony line by line in his tax credit packets. It's 10 a.m. now, but there's no rest for the first-year legislator from Carthage. The House Budget Committee hearing isn't close to being finished, but the representatives are being summoned to the House chamber to begin work on the day's business.
Flanigan looks more comfortable and at home now in Jefferson City than during the early days of January. It's not that he was ever out of place, but it takes a certain number of days and weeks before one can even navigate the building without taking a few wrong turns.
"It's been a big learning curve," Flanigan says. "I've told you that before. There are a lot of things that go on. This is an institution, and with an institution there are a lot of traditions and ways things are done. It takes a bit of time just to figure it out.
"I guess the biggest surprise I've had is the amount of reading and time necessary. You've been with me today, I started off at seven in the morning because we've got to read all the stuff and be prepared for it. We're going to go tonight until probably midnight; tomorrow we crank 'er up again at 7 a.m. and sometime in there you've got to prepare for the next day. When I get out of here, when we close down at midnight, I go to my office and sit down and start reading what we're going to do tomorrow, the proposed amendments and the proposed bills. It's a lot of time, and I don't think people realize how much time is involved."
Far too early in the day for such business, in my mind. But Flanigan pores through the thick binder, jotting down notes with a pencil, pausing for a sip of coffee.
It's been nearly six months since Flanigan was elected, more than three months since he was sworn in. In two weeks, his first session as a legislator ends.
***
Flanigan eats a small breakfast at his seat in the committee room in the basement of the Capitol. For two hours he takes notes, refills his Styrofoam cup and follows testimony line by line in his tax credit packets. It's 10 a.m. now, but there's no rest for the first-year legislator from Carthage. The House Budget Committee hearing isn't close to being finished, but the representatives are being summoned to the House chamber to begin work on the day's business.
Flanigan looks more comfortable and at home now in Jefferson City than during the early days of January. It's not that he was ever out of place, but it takes a certain number of days and weeks before one can even navigate the building without taking a few wrong turns.
"It's been a big learning curve," Flanigan says. "I've told you that before. There are a lot of things that go on. This is an institution, and with an institution there are a lot of traditions and ways things are done. It takes a bit of time just to figure it out.
"I guess the biggest surprise I've had is the amount of reading and time necessary. You've been with me today, I started off at seven in the morning because we've got to read all the stuff and be prepared for it. We're going to go tonight until probably midnight; tomorrow we crank 'er up again at 7 a.m. and sometime in there you've got to prepare for the next day. When I get out of here, when we close down at midnight, I go to my office and sit down and start reading what we're going to do tomorrow, the proposed amendments and the proposed bills. It's a lot of time, and I don't think people realize how much time is involved."
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