The Fayette

County Chamber of Commerce last week took its annual Dome Roam to the

state Capitol.

Twenty business

and civic leaders spent the day talking with county legislators including

Sen. Greg Hecht, Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and Rep.

Kathy Cox. The trip was arranged by Tyler Duffy, chamber Legislative Action

Committee chairman.

During lunch,

state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine spoke. He commended the group

for being interested enough to visit the Legislature and said they should

stay informed for their families' and the community's sake.

"You can

make a difference," he said, "and the Legislature needs to know

you're the boss. In my case, I have eight million bosses. I take my responsibilities

very seriously in looking after nursing homes, hospitals, small finance

companies and the general safety of those eight million citizens.

"Government

should be a catalyst to people who have safety, health and other consumer

concerns," he added.

In order to

meet these concerns, his office is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the

telephones are manned with "real people." It is the only state

agency open these hours.

Westmoreland,

the House minority leader, said the Fayette Chamber is always the biggest

delegation to visit from Fayette County.

Cox explained

her bill to be read that day, concerning a child endangerment statute.

It would make the abuse of children a criminal charge instead of the current

misdemeanor charge.

Since it was

the 33rd day of the 2001 legislature, and the last day to enter a bill

to be considered, the representatives thanked the chamber for its input

and traveled back across the street to their desks.