Why I Treasure the Treasure State

So due to issues with blogspot, I have not posted in a while. So a few things have happened since then but mostly I started my internship!

I know nothing about Montana, honestly zip. But I think I have learned more than anyone has ever wanted to know about the state. My day to day duties consist of watching 8+ hours of Tivoed Montana news broadcasts: Billing, Great Falls, and Missoula. Yes, that's right 8 hours of what Montana calls headlines. I watch the news and write up a summary that is printed for the Senator and emailed to the office. I have been saving some of these newsworthy stories and thought I would share them with you. My notes are in italics:

The Montana state Senate (which only meets for 4 months every 2 years) had its second reading of Senate Bill 87 which would make wearing a seat belt mandatory. The Bill must have one more uncontested reading before moving to the House. We are in 2009 and Montanans don't have to wear their seat belts? This is coming from a state that 2 years ago you could still have an open container in your car. According to other interns in the office it was common practice to drink and drive to and from college.

A couple from Oklahoma moved into a cabin in Helmville in November. They did not have sufficient supplies and were caught off guard by a winter storm. Neighbors found the couple in the cabin in mid-January. Mickey Charlene Davis froze to death and Jack McWhorter, her common law husband nearly starved. Jack McWhorter plans to move back to Oklahoma.

Outdoor Report: Wolverines are apparently quite the land travelers. "Oh what a lovely countryside. Wait, what's that? Oh my God, its a wolverine, run!"

Motorists along a busy highway called Marshall police Saturday complaining that it was difficult to see Robert Craig riding a white horse during a snowstorm along the side of the road. When police found Craig he appeared drunk and had to be detained. He was cited with a DUI and his horse was left outside the police station until Craig sobered up. No comment

Besides watching the news I also have to do news clips for the Senator. Our 8 Montana offices go through their newspapers send in the best articles. I then sort them by Montana's Big Four: the 2 Senators, the 1 Representative, and the Governor— the whole state is run by 4 people yet we still need 8 offices to reach the entire population of under 1 million. I then make copies for the Senator so he can have them with lunch and distribute 18 more copies to everyone in the office. For a state that is very eco-conscious going paperless is not a priority.

Other than the mundane, I do get to go and do some Capitol Hill activities as well. I have been able to attend a hearing, go to a press conference, and am helping the Deputy Press Secretary with redesigning the website. Finally, those design classes are coming in handy.

This week is going to be a big one with the economic stimulus package going through. Mondays I have class and am not in the office. But all day today I was receiving emails about how interns were needed to run amendments to the Senate floor. Hopefully that will be me tomorrow!