Ronson McKee rolls out of bed at 6 a.m. and fights off the temptation to roll back in. An hour later, he puts on a neatly pressed suit and silk tie, darts out the door and heads to the state Capitol, ready for a full day's work.
As an intern for Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, and Sen. Kevin Van Tassell, R-Vernal, McKee is part of a small army of twentysomethings who roam Capitol Hill. Their duties vary. They race in and out of committee meetings as they gather paperwork, write e-mails, deal with press, keep an eye on selected bills and keep their legislators on task.
McKee said the crux of his job is to allow the senators he serves to concentrate on pending legislation. "He's thinking about bills. I'm thinking about where he needs to be to see the bills."
When McKee first gets to work, he goes to Hickman's office and logs onto a computer. He scans the legislative Web site to make sure that he has all the information he needs to help his lawmakers with their day's agenda. "You have to be on the ball," he said.
To keep the senators up to speed, he usually has to make a morning trip or two to the legislative bill room to grab copies of bills and amendments to bills that his lawmakers will vote on in committee meetings.
Reared in Vernal with a family that leans solidly Republican, McKee said he has always had a curiosity about politics. "I've always known who my legislators are."
McKee, who is one online English class away from his Utah State economics degree, sort of fell into the intern gig.
When a couple of other USU students dropped out at the last minute, McKee was tapped to help fill the positions.
He is one of about a half dozen USU interns this session.
A large chunk of this year's 68-strong legislative intern crop comes from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. Those schools require would-be interns to complete an upper-division political-science course that helps prepare the students for life on the Hill.
Jerry Howe, the Legislature's intern coordinator, also co-teaches the U. class with pollster and political guru Dan Jones. Howe said his class prepares students by explaining the legislative Web site and teaching them about the state budgeting process. His class also tries to excite the students by bringing in guest speakers. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has visited the class in the past.
Howe helps place interns with lawmakers. He takes into account special requests the interns have. For some, it is really important to work with either Republicans or Democrats. Others want to work with the legislator who represents their home district, and some request to work with legislators in senior leadership positions.
Howe said the universities and colleges do most of the screening.
McKee said that because he jumped into the process late, his options were limited. He had thought it would be interesting to serve with Democratic lawmakers so he could learn about other perspectives. But he couldn't be happier about where he ended up. "They've been really nice to me," he said. "They don't dump everything on me."
They do work him, though.
When the Senate is in its 10 a.m. session, McKee makes sure Van Tassell and Hickman have all the relevant information they need about what's being discussed. While he sprints back and forth between the senators' offices and the floor, he is careful to follow protocol. He must wear his suit coat when entering the Senate chamber, and he cannot walk between the Senate president and the senator who is currently speaking.
After the session wraps up, he helps Hickman with his noontime Rules Committee meeting.
His typical late afternoons have the intern doing any number of activities. On Wednesday afternoon he helped facilitate a meeting between Dixie State College officials and Sen. Hickman. He then helped Sen. Van Tassell get a letter out to a lobbyist before dashing in between different committee meetings to watch legislation.
"They can never be in two places at once," Howe said of the legislators. He said it is commonplace for interns to help their lawmakers communicate with constituents and maintain their calendars. "Some legislators get in excess of 200 e-mails a day," he said. The interns help spare the lawmakers the chore of wading through all that e-mail, Howe explained.
McKee said his lawmakers keep him busy enough, but he knows of others who are worked harder.
Patrick Reimherr, a U. student who works for House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said 12- or 13-hour days are not unheard of.
Jeff Bramble, who is interning for his father, Senate Majority Leader Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, also falls into the super-busy category. Jeff, a student at UVSC who is focusing on accounting and law classes, said his experience as an intern is teaching him more than he has gleaned by just hanging out at the Capitol as a lawmaker's family member.
He said he is learning how the political process works, even behind closed doors. "No book can explain what you learn up here."
Howe said state government is crawling with former legislative interns. He pointed out that Congressman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, is an alumni of the program.
McKee hasn't settled on a political career path but he does have a new outlook on politicians and the legislative process. "I really believe most of them (lawmakers), especially on the state level, are good people."
Before McKee wraps up his day, usually around 5 p.m., he checks with his senators to make sure they don't have other duties for him. Then he goes home and gets ready to repeat the routine.
E-mail: smansell@desnews.com