Dear Hecate:
My Senator told me that she would be presenting our amendment in a private Democratic Caucus on Tuesday the 23rd and it was there that she would get a sense of whether or not our amendment had the support of the Leadership and enough of the rank and file to succeed during the budget debate that starts the next day. What is the purpose of these private caucuses? Do the Republicans have a caucus too? Is there something we can do to influence these caucuses? What do they do in there anyway?
No Stone Unturned Nellie:
Yes, the Republican's will no doubt have a caucus before the budget debate begins, and the agenda and the purpose for the Democrats and the Republicans will be more or less the same: to engage the Senators in an informed global discussion of all the public structures that support everything from education, transportation, clean air and water, public safty, the courts, social services, parks and recreation and the list goes on. Important to know: these sessions are considered private and off the record
In both caucuses the Democratic Leadership and the Republican Leadership will first review the Senate Ways and Means budget recommendations including the estimated revenues and the amounts allocated to each of the departments and agencies. After that briefing, Members do engage in a "spirited discussion" questioning the revenue assumptions and allocation decisions. Savvy Senators will wait for the right time in these discussions to brief their colleagues on some of their proposed amendments, both to identify possible supporters and to get a preliminary opinion from their Leadership.
Needless to say, Senate Leaderhip has a way of telling both Democratic Members and the Republican Members which amendments have their support and which don't.
Senators who are confident their amendment has the support of Leadership will immiediately begin detailed discussions with the President's staff and Sentate Ways and Means Staff to review and finalize the text and the dollar amount. Senators who are suspcious that their amendment will not be supported by the Leadership do the same thing AND figure out some face saving activities for the advocates.
You can help your Senate champion by talking to as many Senators as you can before the Tuesday Caucus. Ask each of them to speak up during caucus in support of your amendment. Wouldn't hurt to hang around outside the Senate President's office to pick up some immediate feedback either.
Who is Hecate?
Hecate is a Greek Goddess who served as a guide and coach at the crossroads of Hades, where after crossing the River Styx, Greek souls found themselves facing three choices: the Elysian Fields, abode of the great and heroic; the Fields of Asphodel, for all who had led a blameless but ordinary life; or to Tartarus, a sunless land of punishment for criminals.
Hecate's best known role in Greek mythology was guiding Persephone, the goddess of spring, on her annual journeys between Hades and Earth. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hecate is portrayed as a nurturing and protective guide for Persephone on those annual journeys.
