I want to be in the room when decisions are being made on my bills.

That means the bill hearing and voting session, which are open to the public, and the pre-meeting meeting of my committee’s leadership before the votes are cast, which is not public.

If the bill is not in my committee, I want a co-sponsor who will make the case for the bill and warn me of any problems that arise.  Sometimes, I will ask that colleague to be the lead sponsor, and I will be the co-sponsor.

I also want people in the room when I’m drafting a bill who will be able to get it passed or funded.

Last month, I wrote about a new Oregon law that would allow students to attend state colleges without paying tuition or taking out traditional loans. Instead, they would commit 3% of their future income for 20 years to repaying the state.

I’ve asked that similar legislation be drafted.

Support from within the higher education system is crucial for my legislation to be adopted.  A significant policy change of this nature will not pass over their objections.

I now have at least one such supporter.  We scheduled a meeting to discuss the details.

Then I learned that another executive branch official was interested in this idea but would be out of town the day of our meeting.

We’re rescheduling the meeting.

I want this person in the room.