Hard Work Ahead

I spent all day Tuesday in Santa Fe as the Legislature convened and the Governor charged them with a heavy work load in his State of the State address. Opening day is always a rush. I have been to about 25 of them and they are always a lot of fun. But, these festivities belie the endurance race that is the New Mexico Legislature. These part time law makers will work very, very hard over the next thirty days. Stale air, bad food, endless meetings, lack of exercise, absence from family, partisan warfare and countless receptions will wear down these men and women until they feel like they are in the seventh level of hell. And, this is just a thirty day session. Sixty day sessions get into a whole new plane of existence.

Of course, the lobbyists and Governor's legislative team will experience the same kind of exhaustion. And then they have to stick around after the session mercifully ends.

So, why do these people all do this year after year. Well, they actually love it because no matter your political philosophy they feel as if they can positively direct the future of the state and its people. It also helps them to cope with this if they are a little nuts.

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.
~Thomas Jefferson