Utah State Legislature Internship Newsletter WINTER 2010 JANUARY - APRIL INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Internship: 1 An Overview BYU Interns to 2 the Rescue! Spotlights 3 Highlights from 6 the 2010 Utah State Legislative Session In Memory of 8 Professor Gary Bryner Contact Us 8 The Utah Legislative Internship is unique even among state legislative The Internship: An Overview internships that are available in most states. This is because the Dr. Robert Goss Students who are political science Utah Legislature is a citizen Utah State Legislature interns majors have a keen interest in legislature, and the student interns totaled 27 students from BYU for seeking this paid internship in the become staff to the elected the January 25 through March 11, Utah State Capitol. But qualified officials, working closely with them 2010 General Session. Most students of all majors may apply in constituent services, moving students called Utah home and and have over the years. Students legislation through the committee consequently had a particular during winter 2010 were majoring and chamber processes, and in interest in serving in their own in Arabic, business, English dealing with the executive branch state legislature, but those from teaching, finance, international agencies, all kinds of interest other states are welcomed by relations, Middle East studies, groups, and with local and federal Utah state legislators as well. BYU philosophy, and political science. officials. In other state legislative students hailed from Arizona, Minors included business, Chinese, internships outside of Utah, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, English, French, geography, student interns would be working Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, Japanese, philosophy, psychology, for other staff members and not Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. and sociology. Fourteen students directly for the elected officials. were seniors, and thirteen were juniors. P A G E 2 BYU Interns to the Rescue! Utah State Legislature interns exemplify university core values With the economic scramble began to locate “It was my pleasure to have asked for her work to downturn and reduced students who met the work with [my legislative be improved.” funding available, the BYU internship requirements intern]… who performed I found [my intern‟s] intern slots for the 2010 and were able to make a every assignment with greatest strengths to be his Utah legislative session sudden change in their energy and organizational skills, work were cut from 25 to 22. winter semester plans. professionalism.” ethic and focus… He also Those slots were filled well When the “If you can “I greatly enjoyed showed exceptional before the application orientation began working with [my leadership skills in deadline date with several at the State duplicate [my intern] in this recruiting other interns to students on the alternate Capitol the capacity; he was help accomplish some list. At the end of the first following Monday intern] for truly an asset to my critical projects for me… If week of winter semester, morning, 27 BYU next year, I efforts… Also, for you can duplicate him for the legislative intern interns stepped me he has become next year, I would prefer a coordinator, Jerry Howe, up to receive would prefer a “To catch the reader's attention, place an a good friend.” BYU intern.” interestingcalled sentence because or quote from otherthe story their assignments. here.” BYU intern” universities had failed to fill “Writing and “[My intern] took every The legislators‟ their assigned slots. Could efficiency were [my opportunity to learn. I evaluations of their interns BYU possibly come up with intern‟s] greatest work- know when she was not at the end of the session 5 more qualified interns in a related strengths. She doing something specifically indicate that BYU students matter of 3 days? “No completed every task I gave for me or the other are consistently prepared problem,” responded Adam her very quickly and representative that she was and give exceptional Brown, the USL faculty thoroughly… I cannot think in the gallery listening to performance: advisor. And then the of an area where I could the debate. I believe she was fully engaged.” “[My intern] was very professional. He was always cordial and kind with those we met… Several other legislators took special note of how great he was and noticed his „will-do‟ attitude.” Thank you, interns, for representing BYU well by demonstrating the university‟s core values. The USL interns of 2010 with Governor Gary R. Herbert UTAH STATE LEGISLATU R E WINTER 2010 P A G E 3 SPOTLIGHTS 2010 Interns: Katrina Smith Cammack: Closer interactions, deeper involvement BJ Wirig: Unexpected involvement in policy processes Former Interns: Daniel Woods: Sticking to your guns; advocacy and the gospel Amelia Roper: Kick-starting a great political career Ben Bitter: Preparation for an Arizona municipality Daniel Woodruff: A permanent and positive view of the public sector BJ Wirig, 2010 My time in the Utah Attorney General's office, legislature was life-changing. the Utah Department of Going in, I never expected Public Safety, and the Utah that an intern could have as crime lab. We also worked much influence in closely with Ed Smart, the policy process “The Elizabeth Smart's Senator Stuart Adams, his wife Susan, and intern BJ Wirig as I was able to father, and other government In years past, legislators critics to make the law have. legislators, especially have tried but failed to pass pass, again by a large closest to the Representative One memorable this sort of law in Utah. majority. Wilcox, the bill's project was my people has the floor sponsor. Senator Adams and I Although my interest in work with worked together with the national politics led me to most Senator Adams to S.B. 277 was bill's critics to negotiate political science, my pass S.B. 277, influence.” modeled on "Katie's changes to their proposed legislative internship shifted which establishes law," a law passed in law that would help it pass. my sights: The government a database of criminals' New Mexico in 2006. As a result, S.B. 277 passed closest to the people has DNA to assist law Utah's passage of S.B. 277 the Senate with only one the most influence. I enforcement. As Senator makes it the 22nd state to objection. As it moved to learned so much in a month Adams and I developed the collect DNA samples from the House, I once again and a half that cannot be bill, we met with violent felons at the time of found myself working with learned in class. representatives from the booking. P A G E 4 Katrina Smith Cammack, 2010 As I progressed through the leader had different views political science major, I concerning future plans for planned to eventually do an WSU. The majority leader internship in Washington DC. advised me as to what he When application time came, wanted to see changed then he “There's a lot however, I applied instead for delegated to me the task of more to politics the Utah legislative internship. I staying in touch with other had heard that legislative players about his concerns. than what you interns have much closer Working directly with the learn from a interactions with policy makers president of WSU, I worked to and deeper involvement in the persuade other legislators to textbook—it‟s policy process in the Utah State take the majority leader's side. one thing to Legislature internship than is After having taken an active read about it usually available in Washington role in building a coalition and issues. One major issue dealt DC internships. passing legislation, I know that and another to with academic programs at I was not disappointed. While there's a lot more to politics Weber State University. The see it.” working as the House majority than what you learn from a state Board of Education, the leader's only staffer, I worked textbook—it‟s one thing to president of Weber State, the personally with the read about it and another to governor, and the majority Representative on several see it. Daniel Woods, 2006 I remember people who their places when they required, but civility is a key stuck to their guns. The acted unsoundly and with- component of effective committee meetings were out appropriate decorum. advocacy and proper hu- the battle grounds. The leg- These legislators—senators man relations within the islators sat in their chairs. and representatives—are perspective of the gospel of They had their name plates people of personality, Jesus Christ. I believe that on the desks before them. strength and opinion. They the most effective lawyers, They had their constituents have paid a price to get and for that matter, watching. They had inter- where they are. They professionals in general, ested people from the pub- command respect and they achieve excellence in their lic around them in the have backbone. Watching professions while still room, but they didn't move this and sitting in these maintaining high standards from their positions. They committee rooms— of professionalism and were firm. On more than observing these people of civility. As a participant of one occasion, I either strength—has created in the BYU Utah State watched firsthand or heard me a desire to be like them: Legislature internship from another intern of strong, immovable in my program, I watched, legislators putting visiting position. In the practice of firsthand, people who tried members of the public in law, zealous advocacy is to do both. UTAH STATE LEGISLATU R E WINTER 2010 P A G E 5 Ben Bitter, 2006 Working in the Utah State ment experience prior to their intergovernmental rela- Legislature has proven to be a employment with the city.