I first met the Senator soon after I began working for Senator Steve Harrison. I was a young 19-year-old still wide-eyed from the opportunity to work at the capitol and was absolutely on the bottom of the food chain. He walked into my office, introduced himself as he shook my hand and began to inquire about me.

We chatted for a brief minute or two and then when there was a pause in the conversation I asked if he wanted to speak to Senator Harrison. “No,” he replied. “I just came to meet you.” As he walked out the door I instantly became a fan of Senator Mike Oliverio.

It is easy to discern the character of a legislator when you are the newest Republican staffer. You’re just about as expendable as anything and you are pretty ignorant – you know it and most importantly, every Senator knows it too. I’ve had Senators look the other way when passing me in the hall, while others have ignored me when I said “hello.” But not Oliverio.

He is a Democrat, but through the years he has been a responsible one. Always slightly the outcast of his party and definitely too close to the conservative fringe for the Democratic leadership’s taste, Oliverio has made difficult votes as the powers that be frowned.

As I have watched him do the right thing despite Democrat pressure, my respect for him has only risen. But during the last two days, I have turned into a diehard Oliverio groupie.

For the last two days Oliverio has been an extremely vocal opponent to the table games bill, offering amendments and giving multiple speeches. His opposition has drawn the ire of the normally unflappable Senate President who snapped at the Senator on Monday.

Oliverio offered an amendment aimed at reducing the number of video slot machines scattered throughout the state. Even though the amendment was undoubtedly related to the bill, the Senate President — in a blatant move to kill it — ruled it not germane. Usually the President has the last word and that is it, but Oliverio rose to protest the President’s unfair decision.

The President then snapped at him and asked, “are you challenging my ruling?” It is the prerogative of any Senator to challenge the ruling of the chair, but there is just one hitch: it hasn’t been done in over 10 years. If a Senator challenges the ruling of the chair, it goes to a vote. A simple majority then upholds or overturns the decision.

In answer to the President’s question Oliverio replied, “Mr. President I have no intention of challenging your ruling. I have never challenged your ruling.” And then he paused for a brief second and continued, “but today I am doing just that.” [approximate transcript]

A murmur rippled through the Senate. Each member knew the implications of his decision.

Oliverio’s sentence structure is telling. He first refused to stand up to the President, but as he spoke it struck him (at least I believe) that it was now or never. Does he just sit down and shut up or does he take his stand and face the consequences? In one defining moment Oliverio showed what Statesmen are made of.

An emboldened Oliverio stood up on Tuesday as the Senate gathered with a packed gallery to speak against the bill. He likened gambling to a train: either you are on it or you are off.

He spoke of his vote for the lottery when he was a young college student and how he disregarded the premonition of those older than he that this was merely the precursor to table games. He was still on the train.

Then he spoke of how as a newly elected delegate who hadn’t yet “hung up my pictures on my wall,” voted for legalizing 1000 video lottery terminals. He was still on the train.

One day he sat across from Governor Wise and told him that Wise and his family would be in D.C. one day, but Oliverio would have to face the consequences of increased video lottery terminals here in West Virginia. That was the day he got off the train.

Today, Oliverio said, we all know where Wise and his family are, but he remains “off the train” as he sees the impact of gambling on the state.

It was a powerful, passionate speech that ranks as one of the greatest I have heard during my 5 years in the legislature.

Oliverio is no fool. He knew exactly what his actions would cost. Until the current leadership changes, Oliverio will doubtless be chairman of a major committee, he will not get major funding for projects in his district and he will forever bear the black mark of a Democrat that votes on principle.

Not only that, Oliverio knew that his was a lost cause: his party and many of the Republicans had already sold out to gambling. But as Jefferson Smith in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington said, “…you fight for the lost causes harder than for any other.”

Despite the consequences and certain failure Senator Mike Oliverio stood. That’s why I like Mike.

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All quotes are approximate, drawn exclusively from memory.