For freshmen on Capitol Hill, it’s the luck of the draw
"B-log"11/18/2006
Minnesota’s three new House members picked their Capitol Hill offices by lottery and started wrangling for committee assignments.
Brady Averill, Star Tribune
Last update: November 17, 2006 – 8:50 PM
WASHINGTON - Tim Walz never had to give much thought to interior design before he was elected to Congress.
He and the other two new House members from Minnesota likely won’t know their committee assignments for a few more weeks. But after a Friday morning lottery, they at least found out where they’ll be setting up shop.
“They tossed us in the deep water quick,” said Democrat Keith Ellison, referring to this week’s orientation, in which he skipped a White House reception. “Now there’s a full-out sprint to get our offices and committees.”
After Ellison got the No. 2 lottery choice to pick his office, he smiled, threw his hands in the air and then high-fived another new House member.
Walz, also a Democrat, said the day before the lottery that he would have an aide pick his number. Nevertheless, he did it himself and got stuck with 32 out of 49. “That’s why I never gamble,” he said.
Both Walz and Ellison got offices in the Longworth building. Republican Michele Bachmann, who picked No. 20, will be in the Cannon building.
Walz, with the smallest office of the three, plans to give it a southern Minnesota feel, reflecting the First Congressional District, because “the people own that office.”
Bachmann said her office will be designed “tastefully.”
The three also campaigned for committee spots this week. Bachmann said she’s already talked to Republican leaders and advocated for a spot on the Financial Services Committee. “It might be a little dicey now that we’re in the minority,” she said.
Walz covets a spot on the Agriculture Committee, and looked for agricultural backgrounds in candidates he interviewed this week for chief of staff. Ellison said he’s interested in the Judiciary Committee.
Ellison skipped a White House reception Monday for a meeting with the AFL-CIO instead. “I just really feel that the hardworking men and women need my attention,” he said.
Ellison also skirted controversy in an interview with CNN’s Glenn Beck, who put him in the hot seat this week by bringing up Ellison’s Muslim faith. “Prove you are not working with our enemies,” Beck said, noting that Ellison favors withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Ellison shrugged off the TV host’s insult. “It’s just shock TV,” he said. “Some pundits think they have to ask the most outrageous questions.”