The Inner Workings of the Capitol

This week my job has brought me to the State Capitol where I was able to observe the hearing on the bill for state employee compensation.

Having never ever been to the capitol during legislative session, and having never observed any part of the process, it was interesting to see how business is conducted here for each bill.

This particular bill asks for a 5% pay increase for each year for the next two years as well as funding for equity and market increases for state employees.

There was no one opposed to the bill.

I was able to see how public relations plays a big part in this process since all who spoke in favor of the bill represented various agencies and were in effect just giving a public plug for the bill and their agency. The news crew was there, so it not only gave them public exposure for the bill, but for the work they are doing for their agencies. So they were not only publicizing their agencies, but also their own job, i.e. See? Look! I'm doing my job for you!

I can see why this type of promotion is very important for both the agency and the future of the bill. Even if there was no opposition to the bill, if no one came to speak in support, the committee could very well think that this must not be very important to the agencies it was affecting and perhaps next time around they just won't worry about working so hard in their behalf.

Politics in general is one big public relations event after another. There are times I think it's so much a big spectacle with not much action coming from all the fluff. But I can see why it's necessary.

The public needs to feel they have a say and a part in the process. To facilitate that, they need to know what's going on. This means the need for lots and lots of communication and press releases. And since the politicians want them to support their ideas, they need to do a lot of PR to convince them it's a good idea.

So technically the politicians are really making all the big plans and to be successful, they just have to be really good at getting the proper PR spin out to help their public think it was their idea first!

As it happens, my purpose in being here at the capitol is a public relations event in itself. I am displaying and representing the Medical Transcription program along with our colleagues from the horticulture program for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) exhibit this week. And of course, the whole point of being here, sitting answering questions, and schmoozing with the legislators and other visitors is to promote our programs, raise awareness of our school, and demonstrate that the money that the legislators provide CTE, and by extension us, is going to good use.

Hopefully they agree.