WASHINGTON — They experienced unpleasant surprises, like learning that a tiny apartment near the U.S. Capitol costs $1,350 per month, nearly as much as the mortgage payment on an Aurora golf course-view home.
They heard advice from senior members of Congress, who suggested “pace yourself” — and promptly answer constituent mail and phone calls.
As they started their orientation week Monday, the newest members of Colorado’s congressional delegation wrestled with the bureaucratic parts of starting a new job. They also began to weigh somber concerns. In less than two months, they must tackle issues that include the country’s economic meltdown.
“I’m very concerned about drawing a line on these bailouts,” said Rep.-elect Mike Coffman, the only Republican of the four from Colorado elected to new jobs. The auto industry, he said, “may very well need to go through a Chapter 11 (bankruptcy) process where they can shed some of their legacy costs.”
Coffman, elected to replace retiring Rep. Tom Tancredo, will take office Jan. 6, as will soon-to-be Reps. Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins, and Jared Polis, D-Boulder, and Democratic Sen.-elect Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs.
The three new House members find themselves in very different spots politically. Coffman is now one of two Republicans in the nine-member delegation, joining Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs. Polis, who will represent the 2nd Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold, ran on issues that included quickly ending the war in Iraq. He will be one of three openly gay House members. Markey, who knocked out a Republican, has one of the most competitive districts, the 4th.
That led to her receiving a few laurels since she arrived. “They’re saying, ‘Wow, 12 points,’ ” Markey said, referring to her margin of victory.
At the same time, she said, even though Democrats outnumber Republicans in the new class, “No one wants to gloat. This has got to be a Congress that really says, ‘OK, we are leaders who can govern.’ ”
Coffman picked up on what he described as a difference in attitude among Republicans, depending on how long they’ve been in Congress.
“The freshmen of the Republican caucus are all pretty excited,” Coffman said. “When you talk to the more senior members, they’re less excited. They remember what it was like to be in the majority.”
Udall appeared briefly Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and five other newly elected Democrats. As cameras snapped, Reid noted that the election had shifted politics even further in Democrats’ favor than the 2006 election, which gave Democrats a very slim and not always dependable majority.
“Having been the majority leader for the past two years, many times with no majority, this is an exciting time for me,” Reid said.
