By Jessica Moyer & Jon Schmaltz
Our trip to Washington D.C. officially began when various members of the Indiana Leadership Forum class of 2009 trickled into the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia on the morning of May 5 around 8:30. Once we had dumped our luggage and gotten a briefing from ILF Executive Director Holly Davis, we headed off to Portofino’s for lunch and our first speaker, Michael Meyers of Target Point Consulting.
Michael presented to us the topic of microtargeting: an organizational campaign tool to find key voters and deliver targeted messages through direct contact programs. A fascinating asset to campaigns, microtargeting uses data from many different sources to identify which issues are important to which individual voters. We had a discussion on how that data is collected, sold, and utilized for campaigns and other marketing. We talked about trends in data, including what factors indicate whether a voter tends to be a Republican or a Democrat. We decided that a few people at our table exhibited too many signs of being Democrats, so we voted them out of the restaurant. ☺
We hopped in cabs to the Pentagon where we met with Rob Palmer, ILF class of 1997. After a surprisingly smooth sail through security, we took a short tour of the grounds and learned about the layout of the building and some of the history. Allegedly, the snack stand in the middle of the courtyard (nicknamed “Ground Zero”) used to be a shack which was the focus of much Soviet intelligence. The Soviets saw people going in and out of the small shack every day and assumed that it must have been some sort of entrance to an underground lair. Little did they know, the shack simply served as a watering hole for the Pentagon’s thousands of employees! We learned some fun facts about the construction of the Pentagon, including that the outside is made of Indiana limestone, and that there is no marble in the whole of the Pentagon. When construction began in the 1940’s, we were at war with Italy, where most of the world’s marble comes from. Instead, the floors are made of terrazzo, a durable surface that lasts centuries. After our tour, we settled in to learn about the structure of the Department of Defense and the workings of the Pentagon.
After returning to the hotel to check in and freshen up, we left for a wonderful dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria. Gadsby’s is a quaint establishment that dates back to the 18th century. In the upper part of the tavern is a ball room where George Washington held his last birthday party and where Thomas Jefferson held his inaugural ball. Our speaker, Charlie Cook of The Cook Political Report, offered an interesting perspective on the 2008 election. He stated that no party has won the White House three times in a row in the second half of the 20th century, except for after Reagan. Now we don’t feel so bad for John McCain and Sarah Palin! He also spoke of the recent bailouts, their lasting effects, and the possibility of a shift in Congress in 2010. After dinner, many ILFers took a self-guided tour of historical Alexandria and enjoyed each others’ company at O’Connell’s restaurant. Then, it was back to the hotel for a short night’s sleep.
Our second day in DC began bright and early at 7:15, and began with a bit of excitement as the hotel fire alarm was going off on the bottom two floors! Everybody got out safely after what I assume was a false alarm. We headed to Capitol Hill to meet with our distinguished Senator, Richard Lugar. Senator Lugar spoke of the difficulties we face domestically and the difficulties we face abroad in our foreign policy, and how the two overlap and influence each other. It was a unique perspective from the Republican leader of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He certainly is an impressive figure, and we are grateful to have him representing our great state in Washington.
After a photo-op and quick continental breakfast, sponsored by our friends at Baker & Daniels, we moved from the Capitol Visitor’s Center to the floor of the House of Representatives. There, we met with George Rogers (ILF 1996) and John Sullivan, the House Parliamentarian. Only the fourth parliamentarian since the office was created in 1928, Mr. Sullivan spoke to us about the role of the parliamentarian: advising members and staff on legislative rules and procedures, constitutional matters, and precedent. He is also responsible for compiling and updating precedent, of which there are twenty-some volumes. Interestingly enough after 80 years of precedent on record, new questions still arise on a regular basis. After about twenty minutes our group was ushered off of the House floor. A session was about to begin, which certainly took priority over our visit!
We had already soaked up so much legislative information, it was only natural that our next visit be to the television channel that puts the legislative action on public display- CSPAN. We met with CSPAN Chairman and CEO, Brian Lamb, who launched the public affairs channel over 30 years ago. A brilliant mind, Brian took us back to the conception of CSPAN and recounted memorable interviews that he had done. When asked what historical event, looking back, he wished he could have covered, Mr. Lamb responded that he would have loved to have been present for the Lincoln-Douglas debates. It was truly fascinating to meet a native Hoosier who holds such a presence in Washington DC.
Next up were congressional briefings with members of Indiana’s Congressional Delegation, Dan Burton, Steve Buyer and Mike Pence. 
Congressmen Burton and Buyer arrived at the same time in the House budget committee room, so we got their joint perspective on the current state of affairs. The outlook for the Republican Party and for the nation was gloomy through their eyes. After being in a position of power for so long, it is no wonder. Congressman Pence took a more optimistic approach, assuring us that, as Republicans, our views and our beliefs are not wrong, they are just not the popular beliefs of the moment. He encouraged us to stick up for what we believe in, and most importantly to focus not on what we want to be or where we want to go, but on who we want to be. From his perspective, if you focus on who you want to be and stay true to yourself, you will end up happy and in the position in which you need to be. It was a sentiment that resonated with many of the class members, including myself.
We wrapped up the day with a trip to the Republican National Committee for a meeting on poll numbers and statistics relating to the Republican Party. Gentry Collins, the political director of the RNC, spoke to us and presented the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Party. All in all, after a day on the Hill, it appears that we aren’t quite as bad off as some may think. There is work to be done at home and in Washington, but we as a Party are still strong.
Our third and final day began with a stop at ONE, a nongovernmental organization focused on fighting extreme poverty and disease in Africa. ONE works closely with policy makers to provide funding and support for the poorest of poor. Nicole Sexton (ILF 1995) was there to welcome us when we arrived, along with her colleagues Kim Smith, Matt Bartlett, and Arjun Moody. We heard about the role that ONE plays in creating foreign policy and outreach, and learned about the link that a global health crisis like AIDS in Africa has to national security and the global economy. It was interesting to view policy from the other side and to see what role our national government plays in these types of foreign humanitarian efforts. We were happy to hear how President Bush was one of the chief advocates for aid in Africa during his presidency, and that President Obama seems to be following the example that he set.
Next we moved on to visit with Debbie Hohlt, the State of Indiana’s federal representative. I never knew before that Governors had lobbyists to represent the state’s interests in Washington. We learned that Governor Mitch Daniels, true to form, does not endorse programs that increase the federal budget, or the “pie,” but he is very much for increasing the flexibility with which states may use the money. This includes pushing for regulatory reforms and relaxing the restrictions on spending and the strings attached to money that states receive. The view from the balcony outside the conference room in which we met was incredible. We could see the Washington monument and Jefferson memorial, and paused for a few photo-ops before heading out to lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill.
After lunch, we heard Ryan Fayhee, an attorney with the US Department of Justice, speak at Barnes and Thornburg’s Washington office. Ryan spoke to us about the DoJ and more specifically, the counterespionage unit. Much like something right out of a TV drama, Ryan recounted some of the cases that go through the unit, and talked about how things had changed from the days of Russian spies dropping briefcases to each other under bridges. These days with the internet, cell phones and such high technology, investigations seem much more difficult. I found it interesting when Ryan talked about how the Department of Justice has so many advanced and confidential search methods and technologies. This is a great thing for catching criminals and spies, but when it comes to trying those people in court, there are many challenges presented regarding confidentiality and the classified nature of certain documents and processes. Many times, the evidence cannot be and is not used in court because it would reveal too much information about the methods of the Department of Justice. It is a striking dilemma and I will be interested to see if and how it can be resolved.
For our final meeting, we walked to Georgetown to the Swedish Embassy to meet with Lissette Lindahl, counselor of economic affairs. Lissette generously offered her time to discuss her role at the embassy and the embassy’s work in the United States, generally. Few of us has an opportunity to hear such a direct and intimate account of an insider’s perspective on diplomatic relations. Her ability to compare cultures and answer questions was well received. Of course, she couldn’t let us go without wondering aloud whether any of us was going to ask about the Swedish Chef. Those of us old enough to have any appreciation for The Muppet Show had a good laugh.
The trip was jam-packed with knowledge, excitement, and new experiences. It is certainly something that will stick with us for a very long time. Thanks to Holly and Judy, and for all those who helped sponsor the trip: Your time and effort is greatly, greatly appreciated!
The 2008 ILF journey to Washington DC proved to be filled with excitement,
an overload of information, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Tuesday, May 13
We landed early Tuesday morning and made our way to our lunch at Portofino’s in Crystal City where we all speculated that had Tony Soprano ever come to Washington, he would have broke bread in the back patio room. We were then off to the Pentagon where we met up with Plainfield native Major Robert Palmer (ILF 1997), Chief Master Sergeant Dave Conaway and Senior Master Sergeant Marcos Lopez. Before attending an informative lecture on Indiana’s military reserve structure, we were ushered into the Hall of Heroes where the names of all the recipients
of the Medal of Honor are displayed. The class paused for a humbling moment in the September 11 Memorial Chapel built at the impact site where American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the outer ring of the Pentagon on that unforgettable morning in 2001. The entire experience—walking through the labrynthian halls of the Pentagon surrounded by the honorable men and woman of our nation’s military—was a stirring reminder of the pride every American citizen should take in those who protect our nation’s freedom. Upon leaving the Pentagon, we checked into our hotel in Crystal City before heading to dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern in Old Town Alexandria. We were served appetizers in the back courtyard and had the honor of listening to fellow Hoosier Ellen Engelman Conner speak. We caught up with Mrs. Engelman Conner on the tail end of her work with the FCC and just as she was reporting for duty as the Director of External Relations for NASA in Houston. She shared her first hand experience of living life on the Hill and spoke openly and honestly about the hardships that go along with living in the fast lane. She emphasized the importance of working in public service because you WANT to help others and for no other reason. Having thick skin on the Hill was also a big emphasis. The class ended the wonderful evening by reveling in a delicious dinner in the same room where political figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison and James Monroe enjoyed their own dinners over two hundred years earlier.
Wednesday, May 14
Wednesday morning we were off to Capitol Hill to visit the Senate Chambers. We were escorted into a private room on the Senate side where US Senator Richard Lugar fielded questions about the current political environment in the Senate. Besides offering his thoughts on the oil market and foreign policy, Lugar spoke highly of his long relationship with the Indiana Leadership Forum. The next treat in the schedule was a meeting with John Sullivan, the House Parliamentarian. Sullivan is only the 4th person to hold the non-partisan position of Parliamentarian since the office was created in 1928. Mr. Sullivan and George Rogers (ILF 1996) from the Office of the Republican Leader, took the group onto the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a few minutes before members of Congress began filtering in to debate the 2008 Farm Bill. Though the group joked about being seated on the wrong side of the aisle, the gravity of the experience was overwhelming. The Capitol proved to be a very busy place that day so we walked over to the Capitol Hill Club to have a late brunch while listening to Nancy Bocskor, a political consultant who specializes in raising money and winning campaigns. Nancy spoke on winning campaigns without losing your souls, sanity, or savings. Nancy emphasized the importance of fostering relationships and building upon those contacts you encounter during your professional and personal lives.
US Representative Mark Souder also made a visit to the Capitol Hill Club and offered his take on the 2008 House races and current legislation he is undertaking. He also took questions from our class before leaving to get back to a vote. Our next visit was to C-SPAN by Union Station. We were able to view the telecasting room with the Capitol building backdrop. After snapping a group picture in the interview studio, the class met with CSPAN founder and CEO Brian Lamb, recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Lafayette native graciously fielded questions for
over an hour, sharing anecdotes from his many interviews of the top history- makers of the last few decades, including every president since Nixon. He also spoke about political news is reported, and the trials that came along with network competition as well overcoming technological advances in the industry.
Making our way back across the Capitol lawns, we enjoyed a late lunch at the Republican National Committee building. We had visit from Congressman Steve Buyer and Congressman Mike Pence who discussed their recent votes on the House floor. Both men also discussed their views on the future of George Rogers (ILF 1996) and House Parliamentarian John Sullivan just off the House Floor.
Dale Moore, Chief of Staff at the US Department of Agriculture, spoke to us as we were seated around a table that was made especially for a meeting held by Ronald Reagan. Mr. Moore filled the class in on a few behind- the-scene details on President Bush’s attempts to restructure the nation’s rural economy while defending the President’s promise to veto Congress’s version of the Farm Bill that was just then meeting approval on the House floor. Several class members opted to take part in the age-old class bonding ritual of an after meeting drink at the Capitol Hill Club 75 Grill Room where many congressman where spotted. Fun was had by all!
Thursday, May 15
Another beautiful day began with a security check as the group headed to the East Wing of the White House to begin a walking tour of the historic rooms that have housed every U.S. President since John Adams. Once inside the White House, class members enjoyed visiting each room at their own pace, soaking in the atmosphere and privileged views of the South Lawn. A quote from the second president carved into the fireplace mantel of the State Dining Room—“May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof”—was a reminder of the important roles that members of organizations like ILF can play in a presidential election year.
After a quick coffee break, the group walked over to BIPAC for a meeting with Senior Vice President Bernadette Budde, one of the premier Congressional observers in the nation. Essentially an election year weathervane, Budde shared with the group her forecasts for every high-priority
race in Indiana, additionally breaking down her perspective on how the presidential race would affect many of the others. We also got to see a demonstration of the Prosperity Project, a web based tool for business to give their employees information about candidates and elected officials.
We then had a group lunch at the historical Old Ebbitt Grill near the White House. This was one of our last opportunities to visit with one another before heading to our last session and then home.
After lunch, the class headed back to the White House, this time to meet with West Wing officials in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next door. Keith Hennessey, the current Economic Advisor to President Bush who took over the role formerly held by ILF founder Al Hubbard, sat down with the class to discuss many facets of the U.S. economic situation. He was followed by Jay Hein from the White House Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a fellow Hoosier who discussed his
role in organizing many of the president’s policies toward religious institutions and charities. The last briefing of the day was hosted by another Indiana native: Matt Shilling from the White House Office of Public Liaison. Shilling graciously answered questions on his own experiences working with the president and shared with the group his story on how he came to work at the White House, the epicenter of the Washington political scene.
It was then off to the airport where, to our surprise, Congressman Steve
Buyer was flying home on our same flight. He greeted us again and we were all home by late Thursday evening. Very few elite citizens of our sprawling nation are afforded such a wide breadth of encounters in our nation’s capitol like those the members of the Indiana Leadership Forum get to experience every year. Many thanks to all of this year’s sponsors and to ILF Executive Director Holly Davis and Judy Klink for delivering another highly successful trip to Washington, D.C.
By Class of 2007 members: Chris Douglas & Alicia Graves
Edited by Holly Davis
We arrived on the morning of Tuesday, May 15 in Washington, DC and proceeded to a delightful lunch at Portofino’s, an Italian eatery. Executive Director Holly Davis went over the trip agenda and introduced our special guests, including ILF Board of Directors members Tom John (2003), Carrie Wagner Bootcheck (2005), and John McGoff (1995). Lunch was sponsored by members of the Class of 2006.
After lunch, we were dropped off at the Pentagon, where we began with a tour. We had a tremendous sense of pride and respect for the people there. The place that many class members found hit home the most was the 9/11-memorial room. We looked at the pictures on display and signed the visitors’ book. On the outer ring of the pentagon, there is a small piece of black limestone from when the plane hit it on 9/11. The tour guide said it was blackened from the jet fuel. It will forever scar the building as a never-ending reminder of the horrible events of that day.
After the tour, we settled into a briefing session with Major General Michael Sumrall, assistant to the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Alas, the most interesting things were said for non-attribution, although he gave a presentation on the numbers of troops currently active in the United States and around the world. Major Rob Palmer (ILF 1997) of the Guard and Reserve spoke to some of the difficulties in the divided command between federal and state (continued on page 4)armed forces. Good to know for any classmate who might, as a civilian leader, find him or herself requesting disaster relief.
We checked in at the Hotel Washington and then quickly boarded our shuttle bus for a relaxing ride to Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington.
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We were treated to a private, after-hours tour of the home and grounds, including areas not commonly open to the public. The tour was followed by dinner at the nearby Mt. Vernon Inn in the Betsy Ross room. Dinner was sponsored by State Senator Brent Waltz, Susan Mustard, Donald Wright, Rex Early, Thomas, Cadick, Dr. Rob Thoman, Al Barker, Bill Kirchoff, Brad Whicker, KDM Enterprises, and Phill Miller (ILF 2005). The beverages were sponsored by John McGoff (1995).
The next day was spent on Capitol Hill, beginning with breakfast in the House Member’s Dining Hall, where they serve, arguably, the best French toast in the world. Breakfast was sponsored by the Hendricks and Hamilton Counties GOP. We met up with George Rogers (1996) who introduced our first speaker of the day, John Sullivan, the House Parliamentarian. Sullivan, who met with us on the floor of the House of Representatives, revealed the delicacies of sitting on the fence between two warring factions, balancing the ire of one against the other, and surviving, hopefully, for a long time to come. His service seemed credit-worthy.
We headed over to Dirkson Senate Office Building where we were joined by some of our friends from B&D Consulting for a briefing by Senator Richard Lugar,
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who discussed the intricacies of the Mideast Imbroglio. He revealed a depth of understanding and a realism about what the future might hold once all the domestic politics are stripped from the picture. He did not oversimplify, nor play for political effect.
We returned to the Capitol to meet with members of the Indiana Congressional delegation. Representatives Dan Burton, Mark Souder, and Steve Buyer shared their take on the war in Iraq, health care, and homeland security.
Our lunch with Brian Lamb, Chairman & CEO of C-SPAN, was a privilege brought to us by Executive Director Holly Davis’ parents, Bob & Suzan Felten Jones. Mr. Jones started in the cable industry over 35 years ago when Mr. Lamb was first shopping the idea of a commercial free, public information focused cable channel.
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The opportunity to hear from Mr. Lamb, a soft-spoken, no nonsense personality who had achieved a great deal in building a public service enterprise at no public expense was incredible. He visited us for over an hour, allowing us to ask as many questions about his opinions of the news industry, experiences interviewing many of today’s greatest authors, and the state of journalism. The talk with Mr. Lamb was followed by a tour of the studio facilities.
We had a short break before heading over to the offices at the Republican National Committee. RNC staff members and officers (including our own State Chairman Murray Clark) were at the National Chairman’s meeting in South Carolina that week, so we had the place to ourselves. We were joined by our good friend, David McIntosh, who shared his experiences serving in Congress as well as the successes and challenges of now serving as a lobbyist to that body. It was a great opportunity to pepper him with questions on just about everything and he answered with thoughtful candor.
From the RNC, we headed next door to the Capitol Hill Club, where Representative Mike Pence held forth. Congressman Pence is an effective and engaging public speaker, even to those who disagree with his politics. Before leaving us, he introduced Heim Regev, Counselor of Congressional Affairs for the Embassy of Israel. Regev spoke compellingly of affairs in the Mideast and with appreciation for the support for Israel of those, such as Congressman Pence way off in Indiana, which he deemed somewhat inexplicable. He did not, however, fully disagree with the explanation that it might have something to do with conservative domestic politics. Class member Erin Houchin summed it up like this, “It was a very enlightening discussion that brought to light issues I was not previously aware of.”
The next day, we enjoyed breakfast at the Old Ebbitt Grill, sponsored by B&D Consulting, with a presentation by Jonathan Dilley, of B&D Consulting, who spoke about the role of a federal lobbyist. We next heard from Nancy Bocskor, a national fundraising specialist, who spoke about how to fundraise. Says class member, Anne Steward, “I was inspired to do more as a result of (hearing from Nancy).”
That morning also offered a presentation by one of the most impressive speakers of all in candor, depth, and insight; Bernadette Budde, Senior Vice-President of BIPAC (Business Industry Political Action Committee), and non-partisan business group. Ms. Budde talked in-depth about the 2008 congressional elections and the presidential field, then handed the reigns over to Heather Alfano, Vice President of Business Development, who led a demonstration on a new business tool, Prosperity Project. Prosperity Project allows employers to communicate with employees on issues concerning the business community. Michael Davis, Vice President of Political Affairs for the Indiana Chamber, was on hand to share how the process works specifically in Indiana.
As the day progressed we had lunch with Chuck Connor, deputy secretary of agriculture, who revealed the significant portfolio for which the Department is responsible, stretching from the administration of food stamps to the subsidy of progress in biofuels. Lunch was sponsored by Rural Electric Co-op and the Hendricks County Co-op.
We finished our trip at the White House, where due to a significant announcement on immigration made just that afternoon, staff buzzed with excitement. Our briefings were hosted by Matt Shilling, Associate Director of the Office of Public Liaison, who introduced us to Keith Hennessey,
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Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Deputy Director, National Economic Council; Jay Hein, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives; and Brian McCormack, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director, Office of Public Liaison.
Class member Todd Young summed up the trip by saying “I liked the variety. It was really a great opportunity to get to know my fellow classmates and others who attended; ask some focused questions of some real experts; and see some world-class sights. The length and pace were about right, too. We’re busy people – so who has time to linger?” We departed Washington and returned to Indianapolis, many with renewed support for the critical mission of Indiana Leadership Forum in finding qualified people to run for office.
Tuesday Morning May 9th the ILF Class of 2006 waited eagerly to board the US Air Flight 951 to Washington DC. This was the trip that had a lot of anticipation from our classmates as well as our directors of our class. Within an hour of touching down in D.C., the Class arrived at the White House for a self-guided tour of the East Wing. After the obligatory security check, Class members were permitted to move through the East Wing at their own pace. Featured rooms included the Blue Room, the Red Room and the State Dining Room. While each member of the Class was left with differing impressions, many were moved by the haunting painting of JFK that hung in the main hallway entrance. Looking at the furnishing and the great historic monuments and pictures on the wall of our past presidents really makes you proud to be an American. Some of us ran into Former US Senator Dan Coats on the street outside the White House.
The Class visit to the White House was followed by a series of White House briefings. The briefings were delivered in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (while the office building bears the name of President Eisenhower, it is said that the 34th President was no fan of the French Second Empire style architecture employed by the building’s designers). The briefings were delivered by Al Hubbard, Economic Policy Council for the President Bush and ILF Founder, and Bill Luti National Security Council. Both speakers were dynamic and they covered timely topics.
Easily, one of the highlights of the trip was the dinner the Class shared with Charlie Cook at the Red Sage Restaurant. Mr. Cook is the principal behind The Cook Political Report, a must subscription for any political insider or junkie. Mr. Cook entertained the Class with his wit and humor while providing interesting insight into the 2006 mid-term elections and the 2008 Presidential race. Mr. Cook’s solace for Republicans lamenting the President’s poor poll numbers – it is just as bad for Democrats! The food was great and the wine was superb (Thanks John McGoff!). We also had the pleasure of meeting the parents of class member Todd Tolson (aka: “DC Extraordinaire”) who joined the class for the evening. After dinner, several class members visited some of the local establishments to unwind for the evening.
Wednesday May 10th. We started the morning early with a breakfast with Senator Richard Lugar in the Mansfield Room of the US Capitol Building. It was a special treat to hear the Senator talk about running for office. He also answered questions and a few photos as well. The Mansfield Room is used as the Senate Caucus room and is not easy to acquire for these types of events. The breakfast, sponsored by our friends at Baker & Daniels/B&D Sagamore & Associates, was outstanding.
After breakfast, we went to the floor of the US House of Representatives and met John Sullivan, House Parliamentarian. It was great sitting in the chairs minutes before the session convened and watching all the things that take place before the gavel. Sullivan explained the how the House works and the role of the Parliamentarian.
Once we left the House of Representatives we met with US Representatives Mike Pence and Mike Sodrel. They discussed issues that were important to Indiana from jobs to immigration to economic development. The discussion helped class members understand the varying aspects of key issues and the impact on us here in Indiana.
We were escorted to a Capitol meeting room by our own George Rogers (ILF 1996) who is counsel to the House Rules Committee. Rogers explained how that committee functions and works with other committee staffers. There was more information sharing by Cheryl Jaeger, Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel to Majority Whip Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri. She is the advisor who plays hard ball with a bill before it goes into legislation.
Along with Jaeger, we heard from John Hambel, the Chief of Staff to Representative Adam H. Putnam (R-Florida) House Policy Committee Chairman. He discussed how he makes several changes and recommendations to bills. He also shared his dedication to late night work while congress is in session.
We had lunch at the Tortilla Coast on Capitol Hill with the Honorable Ed Pease, State Party Chairman Murray Clark, Indiana National Committeeman Jim Bopp, and State Party staff members Jennifer Hallowell, Andy Hahn, and Marissa Lynch. Pease, now with Rolls Royce, shared with us his experiences in government while he was on Capitol Hill and how being a lobbyist means jobs and opportunity for Indiana. Chairman Clark gave us a few words of encouragement to continue to work in the party.
The Class was treated to a visit to the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and an opportunity to meet and speak with the Co-Chair, Jo Ann Davidson. Ms. Davidson spoke the Class on a variety of topics, including the three hotly contested congressional races occurring in Indiana in 2006. In addition to speaking with Ms. Davidson, the Class had the opportunity to hear from Mike DuHaime, National Political Director and Rob Autry Public Opinion Strategies, a prominent GOP pollster. The numbers were too ugly to report in this family publication. However, it showed the class how much work there is to be done and inspired us to help our candidates win on election day.
At the conclusion of a day packed with activities, the Class joined forces with the 2006 Lugar Series Class and other Hoosiers living in D.C. for a cocktail reception at the Rayburn House Office Building. The reception afforded members of each organization the opportunity to meet and network – and perhaps more importantly, compare notes from the trip! Old acquaintances were renewed and new friendships were formed. After a long day and the reception everyone went to dinner and did some sight seeing around the city.
Thursday May 11th. It was the last day and it was a long one, but we were ready to get to it. We started off with breakfast at the Old Ebbitt Grill with the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Conner. He shared with the group the importance of agriculture and farmland in America. He also discussed the Bird Flu and its effect on the poultry industry, and more importantly, on the human population. The food at the grill was great, compliments of our sponsors, Bob & Suzan Jones (Executive Director Holly Davis’s parents).
Our next stop was at the National Transportation Safety Board. We met in the NTSB Board room, a large theater style room a couple floors under ground. It was a very interesting and informative meeting with Board Member Ellen Engelman Conners. She explained how the NTSB responded to 9-11, and how they get involved with transportation accidents. We had the opportunity to tour the facilities where we saw black boxes and videos of flight crash simulations. This tour was fascinating and remarkable.
Our next stop was at C-Span Studios, where we met with Hoosier Brian Lamb, C-SPAN Chairman & CEO. This was the highlight of the day for some of us. The tour of the C-Span studios was just superb. Brian Lamb was a lot of fun to talk with and he was just outstanding as he spoke about his passion for reading and how the people at C-Span work hard to provide an unbiased account of history. Our lunch at the C-Span offices was sponsored by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and it gave us a few minutes to chat with each other about all we had seen.
Our final stop was at the Embassy of Israel. Our speakers were Alon Ushpiz, Foreign Minister of Congressional Affairs, and Rafael Harpaz, Minister Counselor of Public Affairs. Security was tight, but it was worth it when we listened to the true stories of Israel. Both speakers expressed the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel. It was great exposure for the ILF Class to participate in an international discussion in the Embassy with the Foreign Minister and the Minister Counselor.
We left for the airport fully exhausted and tired but we were feeling great about all of the meetings in which we had participated. The ILF Class of 2006 has a great future ahead of itself. The class consists of so many wonderful diverse talents across the state that our hope is that we continue to remain a driving force in the party and continue to make positive changes for Indiana.