Politics and Policy

Before I began this internship I thought politicians and policymakers worked hand in hand to develop and institute the guidelines that governments use to govern their constituents. However, this week I learned that is not always the case. The ARPA Technical Committee has spent countless hours working on an update to the Maricopa Association of Governments' (MAG) detail for the construction of concrete curbing that is used on virtually every roadway construction project here in the Valley. The ARPA committee members volunteer to participate on the committee and have met numerous times with and without other members of the MAG committee. The amendment to the construction detail are relatively insignificant, however in order for them to become a part of MAG policy a consensus of all of the  MAG members is required. The MAG committee is comprised of representatives from the Engineering Departments from every municipality in the county, along with representatives from construction companies and material suppliers. Only the governmental representatives can vote on any policy changes.

The ARPA committee members felt, based on side conversations that they had with governmental committee members, that they had a consensus on the amendment that they worked tirelessly on formulating. However, when the amendment was proposed to the entire committee, the ARPA members were blindsided by opposition from representatives of two competing municipal governments. Basically, the dissenters were upset with the representatives from another city and refused to support the changes. The conversation over the disagreement was lively and bordered on heated. After verbally sparring for over two hours the committee adjourned without a vote being taken. As it stands nobody is sure of the amendment's status.

A political disagreement over unrelated issues is holding up the adoption of a simple policy item. I sometimes wonder how these people ever get anything accomplished...