The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) has two interns this summer working in their Government Affairs department. Government Affairs interns are tasked with finding the latest news articles about state and federal tax issues. Their dedication ensures that Nan Swift, NTU’s Federal Government Affairs Manager; Lee Schalk, NTU’s State Government Affairs Manager; and Brandon Arnold, NTU’s Vice President of Government Affairs, have the best information to fight for taxpayers around the country.
Melodie (Mel) Bowler is one of these two Government Affairs Interns. Mel went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated with degrees in Public Policy and Philosophy. She is interested in state tax policy, and recently interned in the State Affairs department at Americans for Tax Reform. Her internship with NTU marks her second internship in the tax field.
What have you enjoyed about working at NTU so far?
MB: I love writing blog posts. It’s a great opportunity for my opinions to be published on the web by a respectable organization like NTU. I also enjoy going to meetings in Washington, D.C. The Capitol Hill meetings are interesting, but the state tax and policy meetings are my favorites, since progress can be made more quickly at the local level.
What is a standard day like for you?
MB: I come in and get started on the daily state tax news update. I read local new about state taxes, budgets, pension reform, and anything that has to do with spending taxpayers’ money. I then send a list of all the relevant news articles to Lee Schalk and Brandon Arnold. After that, I blog for Government Bytes, and I often attend meetings in the city. I’ve written three blog posts so far, one about a record-setting budget in California, another about the monetary gift from the state of New Jersey to a basketball team, and one about the minimum wage hikes in Seattle. I have several more in the works.
Why did you choose to work at NTU?
MB: I have a really specific focus on state-level taxation. My previous studies hadn’t focused on social issues, so I wanted to avoid larger non-profits that cover many topics. Since I had already interned at Americans for Tax Reform, and since NTU one of the places that I really wanted to work at, it seemed like the logical next step.
What are you hoping to learn this summer at NTU?
MB: I am hoping to improve my writing skills and become a more effective communicator. Each time I write a new blog post, NTU staff will read through it and give me advice. Their edits have been invaluable so far in helping me to better my writing.
How did you become interested in politics?
MB: I first became aware of politics when I was ten years old and President George W. Bush was running for office for the first time. I remember asking my father what the difference between a Republican and a Democrat was. He very simply explained that, generally, Republicans want smaller government and Democrats tend to want to grow the government. After that discussion, I knew I was going to work in politics or design clothes and accessories. Around fourteen, I realized that my life would be better spent in politics.
What advice do you have for future interns?
MB: Don’t be too concerned if you haven’t interned in Washington, D.C. yet. The first time I interned here I wasn’t 21 yet, and being 21 is a prerequisite for so many of the networking events in D.C. Also, I’ve found it more useful to network this summer (as opposed to during my last internship), because I’m actively looking for a job now. The contacts I am making now have more value because I can actively use them to find a job. So, don’t worry if you haven’t had a chance to intern in Washington, D.C. yet, but when you come and you’re looking for a job, take advantage of the connections you make.
Next in the Profiles in Liberty series will be an interview with NTUF intern Catherine Fitzhugh. Be sure to read our post about NTUF research intern Alex Eblen.
Thanks to Catherine Fitzhugh for developing the Profiles in Liberty series and interviewing our interns.