Why did you choose to work with one of the clinics? And why did you choose the legislative internship program?
Before entering law school, I was an editor and reporter for Congress Daily in Washington, D.C. I grew to love the political process. Sometimes, I wrote articles about state bills of national significance. This exposed me to candor that I was unaccustomed to in Washington, where most everything is scripted and appearance is everything. State lawmakers often would tell it like it is, instead of speaking in carefully crafted sound bytes. So, when I had the opportunity to view the process from behind the scenes, I jumped at it.
What was your placement and your role there?
I was an intern for Representative Denise Provost of Somerville. As it turns out, I'm her constituent.
What was your most memorable experience in your placement, and why?
My most memorable experience while working for Representative Provost was a constituent event about MassHealth, which is the Commonwealth's healthcare insurance for low-income people. Senenator Pat Jehlen (also of Somerville) and several executive branch employees were there. The event was at a nursing home, and the constituents in attendance were mostly seniors and their family members. The event addressed the law governing how many assets a person can have and still qualify for MassHealth. Some constituents were frustrated that they could not give their assets to their children in order to qualify for MassHealth while keeping those assets in the family. Representative Provost did not kowtow to her audience. She could have told them that she understood their anxiety; she could have said that the law was wrong or that she disagreed with the results. But, instead, she unabashedly explained that MassHealth is a program of "last resort"—that in a world of limited resources, a person cannot benefit from a program for the poor and keep his riches.
What did you gain from participating in the program?
Our internships overlapped with budget season—and a particularly interesting one given the Commonwealth's financial constraints. Representative Provost submitted only one budget amendment, reasoning that tough choices have to be made. She signed on to amendments sparingly. I'd assumed that a representative's job is to ask for money, but it wasn't so simple. I saw my community's needs from a new perspective. You can't forget the big picture.
How did your expectations going into the program differ from the actual experience?
At the risk of stating the obvious, the Massachusetts Statehouse stands in stark contrast to Congress. The latter is heavily polarized and closely divided by party. The former is heavily Democratic but has its own divisions. I knew this going into my internship, but I underestimated its effects on the lawmaking process. It makes you think about consent, about what it means for a body of representatives to agree on something.
What advice would you give to incoming students curious about the clinical programs?
Think about working for your own senator or representative. That way, you get to help your community too.
