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WASHINGTON— Democrat Tom Perriello was no sooner sworn in as the new representative of Virginia’s 5th district Tuesday than he saw his name atop a list. (Watch video below.)
He had the distinction of being named the third-most vulnerable member of Congress by The Hill newspaper.
Perriello won his seat by just 745 votes, and he said he’s continuing his high-energy campaign style in Washington, where he has rented a basement apartment near the Capitol. He and his fellow freshmen have no intention of spending their whole time here learning the ropes, he said.
“We’re not going to wait around. We’re going to be heard,” said Perriello, 34.
When in Washington for freshman orientation in November, Perriello was still locked in a recount with Republican Rep. Virgil Goode, who had held the seat for 12 years.
This time, Perriello walked in with his own name by the office door -- a reminder, he said, of the “sacred trust” voters have placed in him.
“Seeing that bronze plaque is a reminder of that everyday, every moment I walk in here,” he said on what amounted to a busy first day of the new Congress.
Perriello never did finish the breakfast biscuit he was nibbling between a morning interfaith service at a local church, a round of interviews and a couple of errands. He had to pick up House voting and member identification cards before the day’s organizational votes on the floor.
He got his first choice committee assignment – on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. But he still wants a slot on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He likened the struggle for assignments to a “street fight” among the new Democrats.
Considering his assignment on Transportation, Perriello decided against delivering his first floor speech Tuesday. He’s been working on a speech about Afghanistan and the economic stimulus bill.
On the economic stimulus bill expected from Barack Obama, Perriello said he is looking for details and doesn’t want to see Congress repeat what he calls a $700 billion “mistake” -- last fall’s bailout bill.
“We do need aggressive action at the federal level,” he said, “but it needs to be smart and it can’t continue to be throwing money at the problem.”
Perriello met with constituents in his new office and started to put a few items on the walls – including a family photo, a University of Virginia hat and an American flag.
He skipped an optional, ceremonial swearing in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday afternoon and attended a reception with Virginians in a House office building nearby.
ROE
On his first day in Congress, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., was skeptical about an economic stimulus plan that could cost $1.3 trillion.
“I know that money’s going to be wasted,” Roe said. He cited the $700 billion Congress approved last fall to bail out banks and stimulate the economy.
“No one can explain where all that money’s gone. I know as mayor of Johnson City how frugal I was with the taxpayers’ dollars. I’m going to be just as frugal up here,” he said. “It’s almost scary when you see the amounts of money they’re talking about.”
For a mock-swearing in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Roe used a Bible that has been in his family since 1907.
NYE
Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd, will serve on Armed Services, a committee critical to his Hampton Roads district.
Nye called the economic stimulus bill his top priority, but said it should focus on getting people back to work.
Military affairs likely will consume much of his time in Washington, he said.
“I’m excited to get started, roll my sleeves up and just get to work,” Nye, 34, said in an interview.
Since defeating Republican Thelma Drake in November, Nye said he has started to work with Virginia’s governor and senators to protect the aircraft carriers currently based in Virginia Beach from being moved. The Navy has declared its intention to put one of the carriers at Mayport Naval Station in Florida.
“That’s going to be on the top of my list of issues. I’ve already started to work on it, even during the transition period,” he said.
CONNOLLY
Just after taking the oath of office on the House floor, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, said he felt a sense of relief.
“It seems like such a long build up. I’m very relieved to sort of get started,” Connolly said.
Connolly said he has received seats on three committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs and Budget.
“In my district, federal employees and federal contracting is what we do. It’s who we are,” Connolly said of the importance of sitting on the government reform committee.
Connolly, who said he would be the only freshman on the foreign affairs panel, said he will receive a waiver to be allowed the third assignment on the budget committee. Such seats do not earn seniority on a committee, but Connolly said he doesn’t mind.
“I would like an opportunity to try my hand at trying to rein in the federal budget over time,” Connolly said. “I’m not going to be here 40 years to build up seniority.”
On the economic stimulus bill, Connolly, 58, former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, suggested that the federal government invest in local governments. The federal government could guarantee municipal bonds so cities and counties could spend money on job-creating capital projects, he said.
(E-mail nsimon@mediageneral.com)
He had the distinction of being named the third-most vulnerable member of Congress by The Hill newspaper.
Perriello won his seat by just 745 votes, and he said he’s continuing his high-energy campaign style in Washington, where he has rented a basement apartment near the Capitol. He and his fellow freshmen have no intention of spending their whole time here learning the ropes, he said.
“We’re not going to wait around. We’re going to be heard,” said Perriello, 34.
When in Washington for freshman orientation in November, Perriello was still locked in a recount with Republican Rep. Virgil Goode, who had held the seat for 12 years.
This time, Perriello walked in with his own name by the office door -- a reminder, he said, of the “sacred trust” voters have placed in him.
“Seeing that bronze plaque is a reminder of that everyday, every moment I walk in here,” he said on what amounted to a busy first day of the new Congress.
Perriello never did finish the breakfast biscuit he was nibbling between a morning interfaith service at a local church, a round of interviews and a couple of errands. He had to pick up House voting and member identification cards before the day’s organizational votes on the floor.
He got his first choice committee assignment – on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. But he still wants a slot on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He likened the struggle for assignments to a “street fight” among the new Democrats.
Considering his assignment on Transportation, Perriello decided against delivering his first floor speech Tuesday. He’s been working on a speech about Afghanistan and the economic stimulus bill.
On the economic stimulus bill expected from Barack Obama, Perriello said he is looking for details and doesn’t want to see Congress repeat what he calls a $700 billion “mistake” -- last fall’s bailout bill.
“We do need aggressive action at the federal level,” he said, “but it needs to be smart and it can’t continue to be throwing money at the problem.”
Perriello met with constituents in his new office and started to put a few items on the walls – including a family photo, a University of Virginia hat and an American flag.
He skipped an optional, ceremonial swearing in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday afternoon and attended a reception with Virginians in a House office building nearby.
ROE
On his first day in Congress, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., was skeptical about an economic stimulus plan that could cost $1.3 trillion.
“I know that money’s going to be wasted,” Roe said. He cited the $700 billion Congress approved last fall to bail out banks and stimulate the economy.
“No one can explain where all that money’s gone. I know as mayor of Johnson City how frugal I was with the taxpayers’ dollars. I’m going to be just as frugal up here,” he said. “It’s almost scary when you see the amounts of money they’re talking about.”
For a mock-swearing in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Roe used a Bible that has been in his family since 1907.
NYE
Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd, will serve on Armed Services, a committee critical to his Hampton Roads district.
Nye called the economic stimulus bill his top priority, but said it should focus on getting people back to work.
Military affairs likely will consume much of his time in Washington, he said.
“I’m excited to get started, roll my sleeves up and just get to work,” Nye, 34, said in an interview.
Since defeating Republican Thelma Drake in November, Nye said he has started to work with Virginia’s governor and senators to protect the aircraft carriers currently based in Virginia Beach from being moved. The Navy has declared its intention to put one of the carriers at Mayport Naval Station in Florida.
“That’s going to be on the top of my list of issues. I’ve already started to work on it, even during the transition period,” he said.
CONNOLLY
Just after taking the oath of office on the House floor, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, said he felt a sense of relief.
“It seems like such a long build up. I’m very relieved to sort of get started,” Connolly said.
Connolly said he has received seats on three committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs and Budget.
“In my district, federal employees and federal contracting is what we do. It’s who we are,” Connolly said of the importance of sitting on the government reform committee.
Connolly, who said he would be the only freshman on the foreign affairs panel, said he will receive a waiver to be allowed the third assignment on the budget committee. Such seats do not earn seniority on a committee, but Connolly said he doesn’t mind.
“I would like an opportunity to try my hand at trying to rein in the federal budget over time,” Connolly said. “I’m not going to be here 40 years to build up seniority.”
On the economic stimulus bill, Connolly, 58, former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, suggested that the federal government invest in local governments. The federal government could guarantee municipal bonds so cities and counties could spend money on job-creating capital projects, he said.
(E-mail nsimon@mediageneral.com)