Twenty-five-year-old Ryan Sheldon, a new staff member at the Capitol, found himself embroiled in a mix-up regarding House Bill 77, introduced by Representative Julie Coulombe. The bill aimed to make mail theft a felony. However, after an email exchange with Nate Graham, it was revealed that the bill was going to be rolled into another bill, House Bill 97, introduced by Representative Zack Fields.
Sheldon, in a rookie move, copied all representatives co-sponsoring HB 77 in his response to Graham, including those in the minority party. Graham clarified the situation to Sheldon in a subsequent email, explaining the decision was made collaboratively between Gray, Fields, Coulombe, and the Governor’s Office. Gray did not support making mail theft a Class C felony but preferred a Class A misdemeanor instead.
Sheldon, frustrated with the lack of communication on the bill, responded somewhat passive-aggressively. In the end, HB 77 was moved out of the judiciary committee and not incorporated into HB 97. While Sheldon may see this as a win, the chances of the bill passing are now lower than if it had been rolled into HB 97.
Despite the debacle, it is not uncommon for legislators to become consumed by their bills. The incident highlights the importance of collaboration and straightforward discussions in the political arena. With Sheldon coming from a background of luxury, owning the Sheldon Chalet in Denali National Park, perhaps he is learning that political negotiations require a different approach.
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