Forward Janesville - TheReport - Second Quarter 2019

technically the only bills that any Congress needs to approve—and it has gotten harder and harder to do, as evidenced to the recent government shutdown. One thing is certain: anything Congress does for the next two years must have bipartisan support. There is simply no other way to pass bills. Hopefully, cool heads will prevail on both sides, and some good work can be done. OK, so how could Congress be fixed? One of our Capitol Hill day speakers, Brent Kendall, a legal affairs reporter for the Wall Street Journal (who also happens to be my childhood best friend and college roommate) spoke to our group about how Congress used to be: while Democrats and Republicans might have done battle in the halls of Congress during the day, they spent time together at night and on weekends, either through family activities or social events. Why? Because Congress used to be a much more Washington-based institution. These days, Members of Congress dash for the airport as soon as the last vote for the week is recorded, lest they be accused of not serving their constituents. Glenn Wavrunek, Congressman Mark Pocan’s Chief of Staff, estimates that the Congressman spends a dozen hours per week in airports. While we the camaraderie that comes with a presence in Washington may never be restored, there are other solutions that Congress could implement to repair the institution from within. One of the most impactful speakers of our Capitol Hill day was Congressman Mike Gallagher from the Green Bay area. At the end of his first term in Congress last year, Congressman Gallagher wrote an article for the Atlantic called “How to Salvage Congress” that shook a lot of trees in Washington. You should absolutely go and read it right now. So wait…if things are so messed up in Washington, why was this your favorite trip? For the first five years of the trip, former House Speaker Paul Ryan gave our group amazing access to places and experiences that 99.9 percent of Americans don’t get to see and do. When he announced his retirement from Congress last April, my heart sank. As trip sponsor Alliant Energy’s federal lobbyist said to me shortly after Paul’s announcement, “get ready to see how the rest of us live!” Fortunately, everyone who spent time with us this year (Jack Howard from the US Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Bryan Steil, Senators Baldwin and Johnson) was beyond gracious and generous with their time. In addition to dining with the group on the night we arrived, Congressman Steil carved out time at the end of a busy day to give us a private nighttime tour of the Capitol, which included a once-in-a- lifetime chance to sit on the floor of the House of Representatives. We did something a little different this year: we offered several of our trip participants the opportunity to address the group about issues they face. Janesville School Superintendent Steve Pophal gave an impassioned and informative presentation about the district’s fiscal challenges. Beloit City Manager Lori Luther and Ho-Chunk Nation Spokesperson Collin Price gave us an update on the Nation’s proposal to build a destination-based entertainment complex in Beloit that includes a convention center, hotel, waterpark, and a gaming venue. These issues are here to stay and will be on the table for consideration by our organization in the coming year. During the Beloit Casino Project discussion, it hit me: this trip is beneficial not only for the people you meet and get to know, but for all the things you learn. I learned more during our three days in Washington than I could possibly tell you about in this article. I had 100 little conversations where I learned something new. That knowledge followed me back to Janesville, where I can use it to do more for FJI Members and the community. Those 100 little conversations are a big part of why each of you should consider joining me in Washington next spring. I promise you a rewarding and eye- opening experience! FIRST QUARTER 2019 • 13 SECOND