Making Tough Decisions as a New Lawmaker: Principled Filters to Keep You Calm and Focused
One of your most important duties as a legislator is spending taxpayer dollars wisely. Building a budget that serves all residents of your state is a difficult task.
Planning Your Path: Luck or Hard Work?
One of your most important duties as a legislator is spending taxpayer dollars wisely. Building a budget that serves all residents of your state is a difficult task.
eTax Rebates are Popular – But are they Appropriate?
One of your most important duties as a legislator is spending taxpayer dollars wisely. Building a budget that serves all residents of your state is a difficult task.
Activate Your Legislative Vision: A Toolkit for New Legislators
There is a special kind of adrenaline rush that comes with being a newly elected state government official. Watching the votes trickle in builds nervous excitement. Raising your right hand to take the oath of office at your swearing in is awe-inspiring. And then…
The Simple but Effective Influence Techniques of FDR and Reagan
While they were polar opposites in their views on government, Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt both understood this fundamental principle of influence – people are far more likely to be persuaded by someone they like…
Questions every New State Legislator should ask about the State Budget
One of your most important duties as a legislator is spending taxpayer dollars wisely. Building a budget that serves all residents of your state is a difficult task.
Time Management Tips from a Former Chief of Staff
As a chief of staff, your sole job on any given day is to figure out what needs to be done immediately, what can be done tomorrow, and what can wait another day. It’s managing the clock for your member and staff. Just like football, you must know what plays stop the...
Questions every State Legislator should ask about their Tax Code
Every state budget is funded through a system of taxes and fees. It’s important for each legislator to understand how those taxes and fees affect current and future constituents. Businesses are competing across state and national lines, and with technological...
Balancing your Political and Family Priorities
I am five years removed from my time in the Georgia House of Representatives, and when asked to provide a blog post for this website, I knew immediately what I wanted to write about. My desire is to provide a warning for those new to public service about how easy it...