House and Senate Freshmen Face Big Decisions This Week

[babylonsister]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002986969

Nov. 17, 2008 – 1:07 p.m.
Freshmen Face Big Decisions This Week

snip//

In several interviews Sunday as the newly elected gathered for their first day of orientation, newly elected House Democrats were mostly mum on the Dingell-Waxman contest, save for Mark Schauer and Gary Peters of Michigan, who endorsed Dingell.

Dingell and Waxman have been lobbying the newcomers hard. “They’ve both been in touch with us,” said Rep.-elect Eric Massa of western New York.

Rep.-elect Chellie Pingree, a veteran of the Maine legislature and a former head of Common Cause, said her political experience has helped her keep her thoughts to herself. “I know enough to keep my powder dry for a while,” she said.

In the Senate, six new Democrats will participate in the secret-ballot decision on whether to strip Lieberman of his gavel or allow him to keep it: Kay Hagan, N.C.; Jeff Merkley, Ore.; Jeanne Shaheen, N.H.; Mark Udall , Colo.; Tom Udall , N.M., and Mark Warner, Va.

One Senate Democrat who won’t be voting in this week’s leadership elections is Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware. Although he will be a member of the new Congress until he resigns his seat, he is not expected to participate in the organizing decisions.