Freshmen lawmakers Lee, Magar must prove themselves in first re-election run
By Isadora Rangel, Treasure Coast Newspapers, Stuart, Fla. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Winners make the varsity team while losers either sit the bench or get tossed out of the game for good.
The fate of two such
Lee and Magar are on opposite sides of the Capitol's power spectrum. She is in the majority party, which leads both legislative chambers, while he's one of the 44 Democrats serving in the 120-member House.
After two years, first-term lawmakers typically haven't had enough time to learn the ropes and establish themselves, said
"A legislator coming in has a short period of time to get clout," Weissert said. "We used to say it took six years for legislators to learn the ropes ... but then you're on your way out."
MAGAR
In her first session, Magar, the vice president of a medical diagnosis service company, passed three bills, including one that aligned with one of Gov.
"As a freshman, I was lucky to carry the governor's priority," said Magar, whose
Her opponent, Democrat
Higgins also pointed out Magar said at the
"I knew I needed to get the conversation going and give voters a choice," Higgins said of her decision to run in a largely Republican district. "I know it's a long shot. I know that I will be outspent."
LEE
Lee, an insurance agency owner who has worked as a community leader in
Still, his record -- one bill passed in two years -- is similar to other freshmen Democratic House members.
Lee said it is frustrating to be in the minority party because the
"I knew when I went to Tallahassee I was in the minority party and I knew I had to build bridges with the Republican majority," Lee said.
Voting for the 30-year sugar leases was a mistake, he said. Since then he has selected advisers to educate him on lagoon issues. This year, Lee voted against a controversial bill that would have prohibited local governments from imposing some environmental regulations.
Lee's opponent in
Being in the majority party means he could get appointed as a ranking committee member, which would give him more clout to pass bills. He wants to lower business taxes to attract jobs to the county, he said.
"I do believe a person can be the most vulnerable the first time they are running for re-election," Siedlecki said. "I think
WHAT'S NEXT?
If re-elected, Lee said he wants to reintroduce a bill that died this session to create a literacy program for at-risk children in
Magar said she will start working on bills this summer to help small businesses and to overhaul the state's water policies, which is a priority for incoming Speaker
Whether they've built enough clout to get bills passed in their second term remains to be seen.
Weissert said political clout comes down to being an expert in one subject and working with other members to achieve common goals. Magar is focused on small businesses and Lee on the insurance industry and social issues.
The committees lawmakers serve on also determines how they can influence policy. Some committees, such as budgetary control, are more important than others, Weissert said. The House speaker and the
In the end, lawmakers have to use their first term to learn the legislative process and how to get ahead in the game of politics, Weissert said.
"The first term is the learning term," she said, "but then you don't want to waste two years."
Bills introduced by Reps.
MAGAR:
A law that provides the payee of a bad check with an alternative way to collect the debt by allowing the payee to collect the money without sending a demand letter as previously required by law.
A law that allows dentists who volunteer to provide services to indigent people to accept reimbursement for dental laboratory costs without being considered to have accepted compensation. Those dentists contract with the state to provide services under the Access to Health Care Act.
A law that expands eligibility for manufacturing tax exemptions by eliminating a requirement that businesses must increase productivity by at least five percent and also allows a manufacturer to receive a tax exemption for equipment upgrades at an existing facility.
LEE:
A law that allows insurers to post certain types of insurance policies on the their website instead of mailing or delivering the policy to the insured, as it was previously required. Insurers must notify each policyholder of his or her right to request and obtain a paper or electronic copy of the policy without charge.
Source:
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