Hard Lessons Learned

 Six weeks into the year and it already seems like twenty.  The first couple of months of any new Congress are always difficult for me.  Lots of new members to meet, agendas to figure out and strategies to put in place.

This year is especially difficult.  I’m learning some very hard lessons along the way. 

First, the Obama Administration's focus on reforming and cutting CSBG has really complicated life.  Friend, potential friend and foe all ask me the same opening question:  Why did Obama do this?  I don’t know if members are satisfied when I give them not one specific reason, but multiple reasons.  Every time a Senator or Representative asks me this inevitable question what flashes through my mind is the bigger question:  Will I ever be able to find common ground with this Administration?

I am also troubled, although amazed is probably a better word, at some of the other lobbyists at the political events I've been attending.  It seems like everyone is encouraging the Republican members to basically eliminate most domestic programs but of course keep their tax breaks. Frustrating.  Besides the elimination of domestic programs, repealing and defunding  “Obamacare” is a frequent topic.  Tobacco lobbyists seem to push for repeal harder than others.

This debate in Congress and at the White House as to what are essential activities for the federal government to fund is exciting.  However – I am afraid that during the debate the worst of Washington will sometimes come out.

A Rollercoaster of a Week

It has been an incredible 1 ½ weeks.  From the death of Sargent Shriver to the State of the Union to today, I can't recall a period of time where I've experienced this many emotional extremes.  

I was thrilled to have been invited to the State of the Union this year; it's the first time ever that my travel schedule has permitted me to accept an invitation.  This year – to be in the gallery, savoring the moment, and then pretty much out of nowhere to hear the President talking about cuts to community action grants, something he says he cares deeply about, what a blow!  I stayed over night in D.C. and got to the hotel around 11:30 pm.  I watched a replay of the State of the Union speech on CSPAN, hoping that I had heard wrong – not the case.

Although I was expecting a bad Administration CSBG budget number, in my wildest dreams I did not expect the community action programs, which means CSBG, to be singled out by the President of the United States in the State of the Union.

The one point that appears to be of interest in the press is “in a 4 trillion dollar budget why pick on this particular poverty program?”  While I can't answer that myself, I have continually been emphasizing the 20 million people served through community action, the strong community support for our program and the trust that community have in the agencies. 

Though we have a long road ahead, some there have been some rays of hope.  My congressional visits have been remarkable.  Though we lost some great friends in the 2010 elections, our base of support on Capitol Hill is still solid and I see the potential to turn this challenge into an opportunity.