“I know that not every decision is black and white. But the grays are much easier if you have defined black and white for yourself.”
By Tom Newell, Former Oklahoma State Representative
“It’s like drinking from a fire hydrant!” I had no idea the full depth of those words when they were spoken to us at a freshman orientation meeting right after being elected to the Oklahoma State Legislature. I remember thinking that the weeks between being sworn in and the beginning of the session were hectic, but they were actually the calm before the storm. The first weeks of the session consisted of hundreds of bills filed, two or three receptions every evening with a dinner after, caucus meetings, committee meetings, district events, constituent calls, lobbyists, agency liaisons, and discovering & navigating the cliques within the caucus. The receptions would taper off after the first few weeks but everything else seemed only to ramp up.
If you’re anything like me and many of the legislators I have known over the years, nothing really prepares you for this “three-ring circus.” So a logical question at this point is – why would anybody get involved in such a chaotic process? Your answer is probably similar to mine – you ran because there were 1-3 key issues that you genuinely cared about. But you quickly discover that there are hundreds of bills on issues you know literally nothing about and you must vote on each one! Making matters even more difficult, virtually everyone you talk to has an agenda. Leadership, lobbyists, agencies, constituents, and donors all expect you to see things their way.
It is rightly said that “politics is the art of compromise.” Any good lawmaker knows that she must build relationships with other colleagues to get anything significant accomplished. But how far are you willing to compromise? Where do you draw the line? At times, you may find yourself needing a colleague’s yes vote on a bill you support. But in turn, they expect you to vote for one of their bills that you really don’t like. What do you do?
Dealing with the breathtaking pace of the legislature and questions of moral & ethical ambiguity calls for discernment. If you have made it through at least one session you can probably relate to these challenges. You may find yourself asking questions like – I am surviving, but am I really thriving? Do I feel good about every vote and every decision I’m making?
Difficult questions for sure. But if you apply the following insight, you will have a solid foundation that will keep you calm and focused as you make tough decisions under the dome.
- Ancient wisdom says “without a vision, the people are scattered (and perish).”
- Popular wisdom says “you’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”
Both are helpful. Knowing what you are there to accomplish – vision – and the core principles that you will not violate are excellent guides in the process. Now let’s take things a bit further and think about what this means in relation to your views on the role of government. For instance, you might have campaigned as a “conservative,” but what does that mean to you? How do you define “limited government” and “free markets?” As you solidify your answers to these important questions, I would encourage you to read The Law by Frederic Bastiat. It’s a short but substantive read that should really help as you think through these questions.
Another important question to ask as you determine your principles as a lawmaker is – what do I believe about my role in government? Bastiat will challenge your thinking here as well. Or for another resource, conduct a quick internet search on the story of Davy Crockett and “not yours to give.”
A final question to ask yourself is – do I have a principled framework through which to interpret every decision? Have I written down my non-negotiables and answered why? I know that not every decision is black and white. But the grays are much easier if you have defined black and white for yourself.
Once you have thought through these previous questions, develop a rubric of three, four, or five questions that you can quickly ask yourself when confronted with a new decision. This will make many of your decisions easier and give you margin and clarity as you wrestle with the others.
One final note, be humble and honest with yourself and others. None of us are perfect. Your colleagues will respect you when they understand why your answer is “no” and will like you when you admit that you, like many of us, are not always inconsistent in adhering to your own standards.