"I don't like you lobbying me. Unless you have money to give me. Any money? We got the supreme court to rule that's free speech, so... any money? No? Oh, you're peasants, then? Uh-huh, we don't listen to those, so if you'd just fuck off, that'd be great.

Now, anyone out there with some money and no whiny problems about us giving more tax cuts to the rich? Anyone?"

"don't worry yourselves about what we're doing up here, even though it directly impacts you...go home and play xbox"

"I hate it when my constituents actually want something. If you're going to bug me, send a lobbyist with a briefcase full of cash, ok?"

Nothing annoys Senator Hammerlinck more than democracy.

Official parting remarks from the students ought to have been a rhetorical question: "Who the fuck do you think you are?" or I suppose to stay classy "To whom the fuck do you think you speak?"

The fact that I'm gutting educational institutions to help give more tax cuts to the rich has no effect on you whatsoever and nothing to do with you. If you'd all just go back to your drinking.

Representational democracy schlepresentational blemocracy.

Fuck him.

"Behold, our butter stinketh!— give us therefore, butter that stinketh not."

What a dickwad.

Putting a Republican in charge of the education budget is like putting a fat person in charge of you buffet.

Look, we all know public education is socialism so therefore all students are communists.

Supposedly this is a response, and I would really like to hear what I assume was a speech delivered in advance of this recording on behalf of the student representatives.

To me, this response sounds like a polite way of saying the following:

"While I'm sure it was very exciting for you as your first forray into politics, you have failed to present any new arguments or information. Nothing you have presented today is original material. Because of this, you have wasted not only my time and your time, but taxpayer money as well."

I imagine this isn't the first group of idealists this senator has dealt with that, despite asking super nicely, and using puppy-dog eyes, have done nothing besides waste time and taxpayer money.

Now say what you will about alleged monetary lobbyist kick-backs and even the subject matter of the proposed budget cuts. If kick-backs are accepted, that is definitely not OK, and I don't have a stance on the budget cuts because I'm not Ohioan and I haven't read the proposal.

I certainly don't have a problem with a senator telling a bunch of students that their pointless, time-wasting lobbying is pointless and time-wasting.

As for the rudeness, I would rather my representatives were rude and direct than diplomatic and ambiguous. That's just my two cents.

Nice source there, Iowa State Democrats.

Here's another article, and a quote.

"Students across Iowa spoke Monday at the Senate Education Committee meeting, conveying their experiences of budget cuts in Iowa’s education system. Some legislators, however, found these voices irrelevant and unimportant; Republican Sen. Shawn Hamerlinck told students flat-out that their lobbying was “political propaganda.”

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/06/09/Opinions/23612.html

I do find it odd that the recording doesn't include the speeches by the students.

Stupid students always caring about their issues and stuff! Arg, if only they were passive baby boomers.

And what's even more fucked up about this is that those students were *invited* there specifically to give feedback. Hamerlinck (one "m") shows them nothing but contempt.

http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/republican-message-to-stu dents-shut-up/

The students were invited to the Capitol as part of “Open Budget Hearings.” The goal of the hearings was to hear feedback from Iowans impacted by the proposed budget cuts, including the effects of what some have described as the Republican’s “two-year starvation diet for Iowa schools.”

The students testified that the Republicans’ proposed budget cuts making higher education unaffordable for many students and their families, increase class sizes, and reduce course offerings.

Michael Appel, a student at the University of Iowa who spoke at the meeting, says, “It’s important for everyone to have a voice when big decisions that affect thousands of individuals are taking place. Today was unfortunate; it was a rude display of behavior by a state leader. In these difficult times, it is important for all to be respectful and hear each other so everyone can make educated decisions, which is why Executive Council of Graduate and Professional Students will continue to communicate with all state, community, and student leaders throughout this year.”

This says so much in such a short span. Way to kill their belief in democracy.

Young people taking an interest in civic proceedings? We can't have that.

But if we have "people" participating, who will protect the true minority of elites??

Five stars for reps we don't even need to Google to guess their party affiliation.