Bloomberg Politics columnists Julie Bykowicz and Greg Giroux report in Freshman Congress Members Face Final Weekend of Freedom:
It's the final weekend of freedom for the 74 men and women who will make up the freshman class of the 114th Congress. They're about to dive into Washington politics, an arena many of them declared a cesspool during their campaigns. Some may be unrecognizable the next time they come up for air.
So how to spend these final pre-lawmaking days? . . .
Representative-elect Tom Emmer, a Minnesota Republican, has spent the past few days working the phones—not dialing for dollars or votes but coordinating itineraries for his sprawling family's journey to watch him take his oath on Tuesday. “As my wife likes to say, it's organized chaos,” he said. They have six sons, a daughter, and a bounty of extended family. He'll arrive Friday in Washington and spend the weekend giving family members Capitol tours. . . .
The newcomers won't be totally on their own. The freshmen have already had a chance to mix and mingle at orientation, and, of course, they know the other lawmakers from their home states. Emmer said he's been friendly with fellow Minnesota Representative Collin Peterson, a Democrat who has served since 1991. In a bipartisan gesture, Peterson offered Emmer his own ticket to the Tuesday swearing-in ceremony, so that the rookie could include more of his large family.
Emmer took it. “It was very kind of him to do that. You know, he loses nothing by being nice,” the freshman from Minnesota said. “It's a good lesson for all of us.”
That's a charming story, and one that illustrates how quickly the formerly feisty freshman from the Sixth is turning into the constituent-service oriented statesman, at least for his own family.
After all, Emmer spent November 3 out on the road campaigning with Peterson's opponent, Torrey Westrom. Fellow traveler Mike McFadden tweeted:
Another great stop with @tomemmer and @TorreyWestrom in Moorhead. Next stop, Fergus Falls. pic.twitter.com/heLVC8LsNq
— Mike McFadden (@MikeForMN) November 3, 2014
Packed house at the Viking Cafe in Fergus Falls for @tomemmer @TorreyWestrom & myself. Don’t forget to vote tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/iWjB8IHyRd
— Mike McFadden (@MikeForMN) November 3, 2014
Great to be in Moorhead today with @MikeForMN, @tomemmer & Erv Inniger. #mn07 pic.twitter.com/x9hmiWQAvO
— Torrey Westrom (@TorreyWestrom) November 3, 2014
Viking Cafe in Fergus is packed with people who are excited about this election & change in Washington! #mn07 pic.twitter.com/1853nyBH9P
— Torrey Westrom (@TorreyWestrom) November 3, 2014
Emmer is the figure in the back standing on the right off the kitchen doors.
There's some additional irony Peterson's generosity. As the Republicans and their allies tried softening up the Seventh for the Peterson-Westrom race, The Hill reported in GOP ad: Rep. Peterson not 'Minnesota nice':
A GOP outside group is accusing Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) of not being "Minnesota nice" in a new television ad.
The ad from the American Future Fund accuses Peterson of ignoring his constituents. . . .
His constituents disagreed and elected Peterson.
Say what one might about Collin Peterson, he's not one to hold grudges.
Photo: Tom Emmer (rear, right hand corner) was so confident of winning in the heavily Republican Sixth Congressional District that he campaigned for Torrey Westrom (right, in front of Emmer) in Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District. McFadden for Senate photo, cropped.
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