Posted:
October 22, 2009
By Bill Butler
I arrived at L'Enfant Plaza in my new suit at the invitation of Captain Mike Murphy, AMO national vice president at large, to spend a day in D.C. as his wingman. Ushered up to AMO's offices, I was surprised to learn that AMO Plans has a separate arm that represents our combined companies in legislative issues (American Maritime Officers Service). I was also surprised to see Tom Bethel and later hear that he spends a great deal of his time in D.C. Somehow, I already felt a little better giving up those 18 years of donations to the Voluntary Political Action Fund.
I sat with Mike Murphy for a few hours and we talked between phone calls about the issues we would discuss with Congressmen later that day. He wanted me to know "the shot" and the ground rules. I was happy to get the straight scoop. One thing I have always appreciated about merchant mariners is that they usually give the story with the bark on.
Mike and I grabbed a cab to the Congressional office building and met with Brenda Otterson from American Maritime Officers Service and Paul Doell, director of legislative affairs for AMO. We hustled up to a California Congressman's office for a sit down. It kind of reminded me of a movie scene where the director has to make a pitch to the head of the studio in five minutes. These guys were good and they hit all their key legislative points. A few minutes later, we all shook hands and were on our way to another office. I was impressed with the access AMO has to the key legislators that can make or break the merchant marine with a few votes. I was along purely to give a face to the union membership and I was getting a whole new perspective on politics and the union's place in the game.
I have to admit the main reason I gave to the VPAF was because I did not want to be one day talking to a dispatcher and have a big goose egg flashing in the upper left corner when he called up my file. The truth is this VPAF money is surgically placed in the right hands at the right time and is the lifeblood of this union and our place in the political landscape.
I crowned the evening at a fundraiser for a prominent Republican Congressman. I was standing there talking to a young lady from Virginia when the Congressman walked in, stuck his hand out and said: "Hi Bill!" I was a confirmed political junkie.
A day with AMO in Washington, D.C.
By Bill Butler
I arrived at L'Enfant Plaza in my new suit at the invitation of Captain Mike Murphy, AMO national vice president at large, to spend a day in D.C. as his wingman. Ushered up to AMO's offices, I was surprised to learn that AMO Plans has a separate arm that represents our combined companies in legislative issues (American Maritime Officers Service). I was also surprised to see Tom Bethel and later hear that he spends a great deal of his time in D.C. Somehow, I already felt a little better giving up those 18 years of donations to the Voluntary Political Action Fund.
I sat with Mike Murphy for a few hours and we talked between phone calls about the issues we would discuss with Congressmen later that day. He wanted me to know "the shot" and the ground rules. I was happy to get the straight scoop. One thing I have always appreciated about merchant mariners is that they usually give the story with the bark on.
Mike and I grabbed a cab to the Congressional office building and met with Brenda Otterson from American Maritime Officers Service and Paul Doell, director of legislative affairs for AMO. We hustled up to a California Congressman's office for a sit down. It kind of reminded me of a movie scene where the director has to make a pitch to the head of the studio in five minutes. These guys were good and they hit all their key legislative points. A few minutes later, we all shook hands and were on our way to another office. I was impressed with the access AMO has to the key legislators that can make or break the merchant marine with a few votes. I was along purely to give a face to the union membership and I was getting a whole new perspective on politics and the union's place in the game.
I have to admit the main reason I gave to the VPAF was because I did not want to be one day talking to a dispatcher and have a big goose egg flashing in the upper left corner when he called up my file. The truth is this VPAF money is surgically placed in the right hands at the right time and is the lifeblood of this union and our place in the political landscape.
I crowned the evening at a fundraiser for a prominent Republican Congressman. I was standing there talking to a young lady from Virginia when the Congressman walked in, stuck his hand out and said: "Hi Bill!" I was a confirmed political junkie.