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| Kevin Grout Class of 2016 |
This semester, I have had the privilege of interning in the Kentucky State Senate for Senator David Givens (R-KY-09). Senator Givens represents many counties in Southern Kentucky. Because of the decorum of the Senate, his official title is the stated above: The Senator from Green. As a legislative intern, I have had the rare ability to watch bills take shape, work through the committee system, and potentially even become law. According to Kentucky statue, every other year allows for a thirty day legislative session. Known as a “short session,” these thirty days don’t have a budget to discuss. Therefore, the Senate of Kentucky is discussing other issues for only a few months.
The internship has taught me more than I could have ever learned in a classroom, and I am thankful to both the University of Louisville and to Senator Givens for allowing me to participate in this experience.
The great German leader Otto von Bismarck famously said “If you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made.” I have heard that quote, but never really believed it. I’ve always really wanted to see the sausage being made in every aspect. Maybe it’s the political science major in me, but sitting through committee meetings and watching floor debates is something that I’ve always wanted to witness. Luckily enough for me, I have the benefit of working in the majority. In this General Assembly, the Republicans hold a substantial majority in the Senate. Additionally, my boss, Senator Givens, is the President Pro Tem and works directly with the President of the Senate, Robert Stivers. Working in an office directly with some of the most powerful men in the Commonwealth has been an exhilarating experience, and I have already learned so much.
In addition to his service in leadership, Senator Givens sits on many important committees. I only worked in Frankfort two days a week, so I would work especially with the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and the Education Committees. That means that I was able to work with education policy, a topic extremely relevant for someone in my shoes. As a college student and an active member of UofL’s SGA, I am interested in funding of postsecondary education and college affordability. Sitting in on meetings and discussions about potential legislation for education throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky has taught me how we, as Kentuckians, will approach the future. Senator Givens actively promotes an effective and modern workforce in the Commonwealth, and it has been a pleasure to watch these policies take shape.
The Senate floor is an amazing place. The Session regularly goes for many hours, but I can’t take my eyes away from the floor. The men and women on the floor of the Senate act with such distinction as they debate the issues of Kentucky and of the institution. Every day, I still step onto that floor with excitement and pride. The opportunity to forward the legislative process of this Commonwealth is a great privilege, and one that I do not take lightly. I only worked through the short session, and I am jealous of those who had the opportunity to work the budget year. I already cannot wait until next January, when the Senate is gaveled into session once again.
Kevin Grout, of Florence, Ky., is a junior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. He studies political science, history, and economics.