The First of Us in In: I interviewed with Ways and Means

There are essentially three committee's in Congress that do children's issues; HELP, Finance and Energy and Commerce. Today, Andy Bindman took his position with the majority side on Energy and Commerce. Good call on his part, and it is a good match, but it really reduces my chances of being able to weigh in on kids issues, since HELP told us that they are not taking a Fellow this year. So, my anxiety level is a bit raised as I entered my interview in Ways and Means.

Great people on that one- lots of people and a dynamic leader in Cybele Bjorkland. She talked a lot about the team, about their desire to keep in eye on mental health issues as they moved into health reform, and about the potential, under Mr. Stark's leadership, to branch out a bit, and to do more on Kid's issues, even if it stretched the realm of the Committee a bit. I'd learn Medicare there, I guess, but my heart wasn't in the interview (and I am not sure that I can keep that from showing). We met Debbie Stabenow's people today; guess I'll put in a call to them to try to see if I can get in to the Finance through a back door if the front doesn't open.

This is a bit stressful. More later.