Far too often I feel like I get nothing but bad luck, crummy weather on outdoor standup days, phone numbers that has been disconnected, that confirmation email that arrives just after the due date. But this week, the planets must have been lined up correctly because for once, everything fell into my lap.
I am not a politico by any stretch of the imagination and when I was assigned the New Tax Proposal 5 story, I was a little hesitant to take it on. I spent the greater half of the morning reading everything I could find on the hot topic, I read through countless articles stemming from both sides, then I read all the heated reader’s comments at the bottom which after awhile, all turn into childish name calling, hence my disinterest in politics. He said she said aside, by the time I felt comfortable with what was going on, I made two calls, one to the Americans for Prosperity who wholeheartedly support this proposal and one to the Michigan Association of School Administrators, who like the Governor and Mayor of Lansing, oppose this proposal vehemently. Both groups agreed to meet with me the very next day.
The interviews went seamlessly, both men had plenty to say and were staunch in their beliefs that Proposal 5 would either save the people of Michigan or destroy the state.
Next stop was to the Capitol for some broll shots. My luck continued with street parking right outside the building, with 20 minutes left on the meter, woohoo! When was the last time you stepped foot in the Capitol? I would have been sporting a sharp bowl cut hairdo and clutching a Lisa Frank binder circa 1994 the last time I was inside the great dome. A wonderful tour guide named Gary gave me free reign over the Capitol to take shots as I pleased as long as I stayed behind the velvet rope. (Why is it always velvet rope?) I had forgotten just how beautiful that building is, shiny gold features, display cases full of flags, life size portraits of Governors past covering the walls… I would almost say I’d love to work there but then when you think about what it means to work in the Capitol, I’d rather not. Except maybe with tour guide Gary, he was sweet.
