State Capitol regulars knew something was up Tuesday when the first few people lumbering off the two buses after a long trip from Bemidji made their way into the building. "Who are you" and "why are you here" were the instant questions.
It wasn't because they were unwelcome, but because they were dressed alike in black sweaters with red-and-plaid lumberjack highlights. It looked like a barbershop quartet -- only it was more than 80 people dressed in the Bemidji-unique fashion.
Thus began Bemidji Day at the Capitol -- the first of hopefully many more trips by local people to St. Paul to lobby for what is important to us.
The focus of the trip was to lobby for key bonding projects before the Legislature -- regional events center planning funds, Paul Bunyan Trail acquisition funds and facilities funds for Bemidji State and Northwest Tech. But most of the lawmakers Bemidji people saw on Tuesday already know about the projects and where we stand.
The real focus of the trip was to show St. Paul that we, as a community, are united behind these projects and offer support from a variety of sectors -- from the business community, professionals, educators, government officials and students. That they all wore "Paul Bunyan" sweaters only underscored that unity, as people clad in those sweaters were seen throughout the State Capitol and State Office Building for the bulk of the day.
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The face-to-face interaction was well worth the trip, and allowed Bemidji's presence to rise above the sea of lobbyists who flooded the Capitol on Tuesday, the deadline for non-finance bills to clear one chamber or the other.
It was a bonus when the House Capital Investment Committee decided to hold a hearing Tuesday afternoon on items left out of the Senate's bonding bill, including the regional events center proposal. It allowed Mayor Richard Lehmann and former BSU hockey coach R.H. "Bob" Peters to offer testimony -- with a group of sweater-clad supporters in the audience.
It remains to be seen what will be accomplished by the trip, if Bemidji wins support in the final bonding bill on some or all the projects lobbied on Tuesday. But we're sure of one success already -- the legislators know Bemidji can be united and able to articulate that unity. As Rep. Frank Moe, DFL-Bemidji, said, such a unified effort of concerned community members willing to spend nearly 10 hours on a bus only makes his job easier.
Hats are off also to the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, which organized the community's first Bemidji Day at the Capitol. The pace has been set for an even bigger Bemidji Day at the Capitol next year.
