Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: My internship had a lot of different areas of policy. My more focused project was the preparation for the re-introduction of a bill (SB 1036) referred to as baby bonds, which includes multiple areas of policy (mainly social justice/racial, economic)!
I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and found it incredibly enriching. It offered me a deep dive into state government operations and the legislative process, particularly through the opportunity to prepare a bill (SB 1036) for reintroduction on the Senate floor. This experience was invaluable as it allowed me to apply the data-supported policy skills I honed at LaFollette while also gaining new insights. One of the most significant learning experiences came from suggesting edits to the bill. This task required a thorough understanding of both the bill’s content and its fiscal estimates. Since the bill did not pass Joint Resolution 1 in the 2023 session—likely due to its high costs—I focused my recommendations on demonstrating the long-term benefits of the expenditure for Wisconsin. I highly recommend this type of internship to future students. Applying classroom skills in a real-world setting significantly enhanced my learning experience. With aspirations to become a health policy analyst for Wisconsin, this internship taught me valuable lessons in crafting compromises and navigating the complexities of policy work to increase the likelihood of successful legislation.