House Democrats look to hire Parkland students to work on gun violence issues

[DonViejo]

Source: NBC News



Lawmakers would bring students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to Capitol Hill for the summer.

by Alex Moe / May.24.2018 / 8:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON — Student survivors of gun violence descended on Washington en masse earlier this year during the massive March for Our Lives on March 24. Now some lawmakers would like to bring them back for an entire summer.

House Democrats are inviting students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — who survived a mass school shooting in February — to come intern in their offices, working on gun violence prevention.

“We think it would be a great experience for them to be on the Hill to see exactly how things operate — or doesn’t, to some degree — but also to have time with these very special young people that have experienced something that none of us ever want to have experienced and I think we can learn from each other,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, who is helping lead the effort, told NBC News.

Crowley, D-N.Y., is joining with House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., and Reps. Ted Deutch, D-Fla. and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., in sending a letter to their Democratic colleagues Thursday encouraging members to open their offices to Parkland students.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-democrats-look-hire-parkland-students-work-gun-violence-issues-n876961

[lark]

1. Excellent idea.

I love it when Dems get smart and creative!!

[bucolic_frolic]

2. What we have spent on political consultants

and now we learn from our youngest members ... just total exasperation - why didn't they listen to sanity long ago?

[MontanaMama]

3. Sounds great!

It does cross my mind however, that this proposition may have been offered because the Parkland students have done more to move the goal posts on this issue than have Dems but, whatever, if they want to make it sound like it’s all for the students...okay.

[vi5]

6. The true tell is going to be...

...when Dems do get power, if they'll actually do something on the issue or if they'll fall short because of skittish red state Dems and then just shrug their shoulders and say "Well? What could we have done differently!?!?!"

The same way they wanted the "energy" and voting power of the union walk outs/marches as well as Occupy Wall Street but without having to actually do anything to earn it beyond being better than Republicans on those issues.

[Wednesdays]

4. If the Repugs reject energetic, idealistic young minds

We'll gladly take them!

[vi5]

5. Better them than the loser "consultants" and "strategists" we've been using..

Anything that keeps money out of the pockets of the clowns and sycophants we've been using the past 10 years.

Literally there is not way that a group of politically inexperienced high school students could possibly be any worse.

[CrispyQ]

7. This is a great idea!

[murielm99]

8. This is a great way to build the bench.

I love this idea.

[MicaelS]

9. What a fantastic idea! n/t

[Cha]

10. House Democrats are inviting students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to intern in their

Link to tweet

YES!!

[nitpicker]

11. One question- who will fund any stays in DC?

It costs about $2000 a month to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Arlington VA. Then throw in utilities, transport, food, etc...

But wait a minute- aren't most of that school's students, by definition, under 18? Who would normally rent to minors?

Can parents afford to bankroll any DC adventures?

Or was the suggestion to have Parkland students be interns merely made for publicity with no real follow-through plan?