In this Legislature’s Civility Caucus, Republicans and Democrats actually like talking to each other – Does your state have one?

“I sat on the House floor and listened to grandstanding and pontificating and people speaking to the camera and thought: ‘This is not effective government. We could do so much better,’” Ward said. “There’s just so much time wasted.”

“It is our job to represent our constituents’ values. And so I feel like I’m able to have a sense of emotional distance to say, you know, I might not agree with (them) but it is their job to come here and reflect their community’s values,” Feist said.

One of the unintended consequences of barring lobbyists from buying lawmakers dinners is that they don’t get together as often, she said.

By Deena Winter