In a marathon 11-hour session yesterday, the state senate haggled, debated and voted on gambling, jet skis, campaign finance, groundwater and about 75 other pieces of legislation. And while senators periodically shifted seats, stretched out on leather couches, and held up the walls, one senator stood out. In fact, for the better part of the session, he was standing. NHPR's Dan Gorenstein has more.
In a marathon 11-hour session yesterday, the state senate haggled, debated and voted on gambling, jet skis, campaign finance, groundwater and about 75 other pieces of legislation. And while senators periodically shifted seats, stretched out on leather couches, and held up the walls, one senator stood out. In fact, for the better part of the session, he was standing. NHPR's Dan Gorenstein has more.
The senate chamber yesterday was wild. 24 senators, aides, staff, lobbyists and reporters all slogging through half a day's worth of legislation. When I say half, I'm talking almost half of the 24 hours in a day. There was the obligatory lunch break and occasional recess, but basically, it was a lot of debate and discussion. It was long, tiring and amazing.
Amazing for one reason: because amidst it all was one man, who stood.
No. Really. This guy was a standing machine. He is to standing what the Engergizer Bunny is to batteries. But Senate President Arthur Klemm says he doesn't even set the standard for standing in the family.
Track 2
4:43 the best stander in the family was undoubtedly my father. He taught my brother and I.
Senator Klemm, at more than 250 and 6 feet two, is a big guy. Certainly a distinct prescence as he presides over the other the senators on the floor. But the family business prepared Klemm well.
3:18 growing up my family was always in the baking business. So growing up I worked with my father and my borther. So you spend many long hours. 12-14 hours on your feet. And you get tired, one thing I remember my father always telling me is don't put your weight on one foot, b/c that leg will get very tired and you won't be able to work as long.
It was a all purpose bakery, where they baked donuts, bread, pies and cakes. And it's there, where he learned the standing secret.
2:44 the secret to standing on your feet all day, is to make sure you balance your weight on both feet, so one leg doesn't get more tired than the other leg.
Klemm also wore shoes with thicker soles at the bakery. Thankfully, for his feet, a thickly padded carpet surrounds the podium around his feet in the senate chamber.
One might think Senator Klemm wears those funky looking clogs that all the chefs seem to be wearing these days. But you'd be wrong. He buys ordinary, everyday shoes. He picks out a pair he likes, that's it. So, it's not the shoes. But it is the socks.
Track 2
1:30 socks I tend to buy a little thicker than normal, gives you a little more padding?(dg) this is definitely the minutia that no one else is interested in, but on the days when you know you are going to have a 10-11 hr. session, do you go through your sock drawer looking for the right pair of socks. Actually I do it the night before. I tend to lay out all the clothes for the next day.
It may seem like Klemm is trying out for the Guinness book of world records, but he's got his tricks.
2:38 The other thing I do, if you notice, I do have a glass of water on the side, and I do drink a lot of water, so I am moving, and not standing in one spot the whole time. That tends to break up the monotiny.
Sure, he shifts his weight once in a while, so muscles in the back don't get tired. Posture, he says, is critical.
4:19 if you are hunched over, that will tend to tense the muscles and make it really hard to stand.
Track 2
5:03 (dg) in terms of standing, sometimes they talk about Michael Jordan being in the zone, where he's just unconscious, hitting all his shots, does it ever get that way for standing, is there a standing zone? Well actually, especially when we are in session, and you are standing here. You are concentrating on the bill, so you are concentrating on the floor the whole time you are up here, so being on your feet really doesn't cross your mind.
And for all of you wannabee standers, get out the pad and pencil, it's note taking time.
Track 3
:26 if you are on your feet, you have good socks, and keep you weight evenely distributed, it tends to help.
Is Senator Klemm jealous of all his 23 other colleagues who get to lounge on the leather couches, or move around throughout the session. No. He's just doing his job.
Track 3
1:05 I think all the senators make sacrifices to be here, and this is just one of the things we have to do.
It stands to reason at some point Senator Klemm's got to sit down sometime. But until that fateful day, I'd guess you'd have to call him one heckuva standup guy. For NHPR News, I'm DG
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo