Flutterby™! : Elevator pitches and politics

Elf Sternberg: Our country runs on elevator pitches., in which he has breakfast with a Congressman:

"The first year, you don't know anyone. So you try your best. Sometimes, though, since the Republicans are in charge, we might get fifteen minutes warning that a vote is about to take place, and they'll hold the floor open for only two minutes. They give their own people plenty of warning, but the rest of us have to just be present in case a vote happens.

"So you learn who on your side knows anything about anything. When a bill comes up that's their speciality, but not yours, they usually signal in advance how they'll vote. If their vote doesn't make sense to you, you have about five minutes to go over there and ask them why they voted the way they did, and make up your mind about if their decision makes sense."