Lobbyist Practice Debates at T&E II
I participated in the lobbyist program of this year's Model Legislature & Court and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The lobbyist program is different from the rest of YNG due to the intense competition and teamwork that it entails, which can make it one of the most fun and engaging program areas in all of YNG. However, T&E II almost entirely lacked this feeling, which is the essence of the lobbyist program. We discussed many crucial aspects of the program, including the best ways to debate and to speak publicly, and the best ways to use research and facts to get one's points across. Despite its usefulness, this information mostly fell on tuned-out ears, as delegates were almost all sleep deprived and unable to actively listen and take in the points presented while sitting still for extended periods of time. I feel that the better way to get across these ideas would be through actually putting them into practice, and showing delegates what the lobbyist program is all about, which would help engage them in the program and get them fired up about the upcoming Sacramento conference. I myself waited until the last minute to research my bills and write my speeches on them as T&E II had not at all inspired me to do so, and I think that negatively impacted my experience (though it was still positive) in the program, as well as providing committee members with less engaging and dynamic sessions. I believe that the way to solve all these problems would be to have PACs receive their bills and information packets on the first day of T&E II, and debate a few of their bills against their rival PAC as would happen at Sacramento on the second day (although without a committee present). That way, they could actually see how the debates would go, and would have a better idea of what they were in for and how to go about preparing for the real deal at Sacramento. This would lead to more prepared and more enthusiastic delegates as well as more connected and closer PACs, and a better YNG experience for all.