Nate Fisher has the advantage of extra insight going into his new position as ASUI lobbyist since his father, Nate Fisher Sr., works as a lobbyist himself.
“I caught the public policy bug, so to speak, from him,” Fisher said. “But my intrigue even started a long while ago. Ever since I started in ASUI as a senator it sounded like a pretty interesting position.”
Fisher started his work as ASUI lobbyist last week and will spend the entire semester in Boise working with Idaho legislators to represent ASUI and the University of Idaho student body.
He said he is excited by his vital yet challenging responsibilities this semester.
For the first time that he knows of, Fisher said ASUI is working to get a bill through Idaho Congress. The bill would grant medical amnesty, which would remove or eliminate repercussions in the case of underage drinking when there is a medical emergency involved. Though Fisher said ASUI has done a lot of preparation, he has no doubt that pushing the bill through the Idaho legislature will be challenging.
Fisher
“No piece of legislation passes through both chambers and to the governor”s office without a lot of scrutiny and due process and a lot of consideration,” Fisher said.
Other priorities for ASUI and for Fisher include efforts to make higher education more affordable to students. Fisher said ASUI is on board with some of the education programs Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter outlined in his State of the State Address, such as state-funded scholarships.
Fisher said he also wants to establish connections with people he meets in Boise and make relationships with people in public policy that he could potentially utilize after he graduates.
“This is truly an incredible opportunity individually to make some connections down at the statehouse and within local government,” he said. “My career interests have always been public policy-focused and this is invaluable experience.”
Along with his work as ASUI lobbyist, Fisher is also taking two online courses while in Boise.
“To be the ASUI lobbyist and to represent the students of the university, you certainly need to be a student yourself,” Fisher said.
Fisher said he said he hopes to graduate in the spring of 2017. Though he is currently listed as a part-time student and scheduled lighter class loads in order to make time for work, he said the experience is well worth it.
“I hope it”s beneficial to students at the very least,” Fisher said. “I”m having too much fun anyway.”
Erin Bamer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @ErinBamer