Dear friend -- Its hard at times to know what should and should not be shared with people about the mechanical processes of official government, nor what is even worth sharing, and how it affects them. As a representative my first duty is of course to God, then to my family, then my home district, and finally to the great people of our state that truly want a voice that is uncompromising in its advocacy for the cause of freedom and liberty. All of this should be done with a sense of decorum and civility that is due the respect of the office with which I have been entrusted. This issue I need to bring to light today is that of the seat selection process in the House of Representatives. While the seat one sits in may seem trivial, there are much deeper issues going on at the root of what really happens. The following is the state law that governs seating on the House floor: As a part of the organization of the house of representatives upon the first day of the first regular session of each legislature, the seats in the hall of the house shall be selected by the members in a manner as follows: The clerk shall call the names of the members having the greatest total length of service in the house who shall select a seat. In like manner, the clerk shall call the names of members in the order of their total length of service in the house, who shall select seats of their choice not already selected, down to and including those members commencing their second terms. If there are 2 or more members who have an equal length of service the clerk shall prepare a list of their names and place opposite each name a number, which shall be drawn by lottery as prescribed in this section for members entering their first terms. The clerk shall then prepare a list of members entering upon their first terms, listing the names of such members alphabetically and placing opposite each name numbers in consecutive order from 1, using as many numbers as are necessary. A box shall be provided in which shall be deposited numbered white balls, which shall bear the same numbers as those appearing on said list. A boy or girl, selected by the clerk, then being blindfolded shall draw from the box 1 ball and hand it to the clerk, who shall announce the number on the ball, and the clerk shall call the members name found on the list opposite the corresponding number, who shall then select a seat not previously selected. In like manner all members entering upon their first terms shall select seats. Any representative-elect necessarily absent on the first day of the session may, in writing, appoint any representative to select a seat for him, and if no one appears for such absent representative-elect, then the clerk of the house shall make a selection for him, when his name is called. This is not at all what happened during our first day as new representatives. The “lottery” was merely a charade; in reality, each of us was handed a card telling us in which seat we were to sit. When each name was drawn, we were instructed to “choose” the seat that had in fact been chosen ahead of time for us. This is clearly contrary to the intent of the law. First steps matter; the steps that are taken on the front end of a process determines where you end up in the weeks, months, and years ahead... Many may wonder why I am making such a big deal out of this - does it really matter where we all sit? This is a critical issue for several reasons. First, I think it goes to the heart of the integrity of this particular process and the whole of the processes of state government that we are asked to administer; I think it is appropriate to take great issue with the fact that the first thing we were all asked to do as new representatives was to break a law and act in some sort of play for the public. This is the first set of steps on a path that is meant to set a precedent for how we are expected to behave: its a do as you’re told and it certainly creates an inauspicious beginning for all of us who are sworn in. Secondly, the seats were assigned in a strategic manner such that forming coalitions between like-minded legislators is very difficult. Finally, the charade of seat selections is a small piece of a much bigger picture: go along with what those in power tell you to do, or be stripped of your ability to be an effective legislator. A box shall be provided in which shall be deposited numbered white balls, which shall bear the same numbers as those appearing on said list. A boy or girl, selected by the clerk, then being blindfolded shall draw from the box 1 ball and hand it to the clerk, who shall announce the number on the ball, and the clerk shall call the members name found on the list opposite the corresponding number, who shall then select a seat not previously selected. In like manner all members entering upon their first terms shall select seats.... This is how the machine keeps its grip on power. Unfortunately there are hidden politics and theater at every level and at times its hard to even see the evidence, but in this current case it is strikingly clear. In so many parts, it still remains unnoticed and incomprehensible to the general public. Every appointment, committee, party, and person that is brought forward is done only with the permission of power and they are placed in these positions because they willingly submit to the authority of those who placed them. For things to change it is critical for the people to have an awareness of the way in which the intended system is twisted away from benefiting the people for political purposes and against good governance. For people to be aware, someone must be willing to sacrifice their positions and standing, and have the courage, grit and fortitude to step up and make people aware of how the process is working against the interests of liberty on so many levels. Taking these steps sometimes brings consequences; some subtle, some open, and some harsh and detrimental, but that does not negate the responsibility to be honest with the people of this state about where there is a charade of the process and give the people the opportunity to understand what is being done to them and why. If I am not willing to stand in these small moments then really I wouldnt deserve the support I received during my election and I would not be worthy of the position I have been entrusted with, both officially and also for the cause of liberty. For freedom to prevail to the next generation we must have people who are willing to forgo the easy road and be willing to stand for the right things at the right moment for the right reasons; if not, then power simply owns the process; shielded behind men, who appear all to well intentioned; advancing both tyranny and the self-interests of their political masters. Finally, if men and women are not willing to step up and speak about the way the machine has stolen away the liberty and freedom, then we have lost already. The seat selection process was a very emotional moment for all of us and for myself and my family; unfortunately some of what happened that day was done outside the intent of the law regarding the seat selections and a fraud was perpetrated on the public trust. I need to set the record straight on how it happened: this is done with the hope that it will not happen this way again in the future. It has been my duty and my burden to be up front and honest about the way the whole political machine works and to make sure I am always watching for overreach of the power machine in its attempts to take advantage of the people’s House; to do my best, with the role I have been entrusted, to be the guardian at the gate, ever watchful and ever mindful of the inches and yards of freedom being taken by the massive progressive actions of the grinding power of government. The spirit of the law was to make sure the representatives were given equal opportunity to be a part of the legislature, while limiting the power of the speaker and those who are behind the speaker in the seats of power; and also to keep the elected representatives from becoming pawns in a charade, forcing the representatives to be at the mercy of the whims of the party bosses and to keep a check on the accumulation of power in the house leadership. It is disrespectful to the districts of the representatives to have the representatives participate in a charade while making it appear the lottery occurred and that each representative made their own choice in the house chambers. I will not speculate as to why the leadership decided to take this course of action and assign the seats, nor will I speculate what their motive was in doing so, nor whether the leadership felt their actions were in line with having an open and fair process, but the way it was done held no dignity for the moment or the process or of course the voters. It is just incredibly demeaning to the public and the representatives to put on a show and act as though a non-discriminating process occurred. If the speaker wants the authoritarian power to assign the seats of each representative then he is fully able to put forward a bill in full view of the public for normal regular consideration, or if he believes that he has such authority then he should not have used the lottery system to hide such authority. For the record, I must say, I am completely fine with the seat I have been assigned, I have no complaints whatsoever, but that does not in any way make these actions any less disturbing or unlawful. Although covered in the perception of honesty and integrity, these actions were completely at odds with the honor due the offices and the people they represent. Whenever such a political maneuver is done its done in a way to force everyone into a spot where acting in a different way is smothered in a public moment, and doing anything different causes a lot of personal and political pain. In this case the seats were decided by the speaker through an intermediary whom, I would assume, is in full knowledge of the fact that it is being conducted outside the bounds of state law. The speakers office assigned a man to assign seats; some knew ahead of time what seats they were given, and some did not know until they were standing at the desks to be sworn in. Their assigned seats were put in envelopes that were placed on our initial desks during the moments we were taken into caucus. Of course this whole process is wrapped behind a person who is seen as beyond reproach, which is how power acts when it wants to do something in full view of the public; this process looks impartial, but this doesnt make it any less offensive to the public, nor does it make it any more legitimate. Others will have their own opinions on all of this and I understand that, but for me, I have to simply say you have my apologies for whatever part I played in perpetuating this fraud on the public. I ask for your forgiveness; your trust in me is something I do not take lightly or flippantly. My hope in bringing this forward to you is that in the future such things will not happen, and you as the public will be more informed and aware of the overreach of power into the official process. In all of this, I must say I have lamented my own actions, even if I am not really sure right now what would have been an alternative course of action in the moment; but for me I must say my actions did not rise to the level of the honor I have been entrusted with and you all have my most humble apologies for whatever part I might have played in assisting in this or perpetuating it. In His Grip... todd P.S. Finally, for the record - it is important to understand that scripturally it is best to go to the person first and give them and chance to resolve the issue…while of course keeping an eye on grace and understanding... P.S.S. Many have asked me to comment on a whole host of things over the last few weeks – Agema Issue, the twisting of Committees away from being effective for the conservative cause or for good governance, the MIGOP Chairman’s race, the real legislative process, and of course the seat selection process. I personally have been focused on the seats because I think this illustrates how important it is to have the public trust, how it can be lost, and of course why first steps matter for the integrity and credibility of all involved. I think it is absolutely crucial to understand how much first steps matter and that all of this says a lot about what will come, so at this moment the rest of these topics will have to wait a little longer...
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 22:19:49 +0000
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