Minnesota’s new members of Congress are getting schooled in the ways of Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON – Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan’s introduction to her new job has been a bit of a whirlwind. “We’ve had about 14-hour days of new member orientation and that’s kind of a lot,” she said. Flanagan, along with Minnesota’s newly elected federal lawmakers, has spent much of the week on Capitol Hill becoming schooled in House and Senate rules and procedures. They are also seeking the best possible office spaces and committee assignments, beginning to hire staff, joining caucuses and renting places to live. In the case of the House and Senate Republicans, they also elected their new leaders. What’s made this freshman orientation different from many others is the sheer number of newly elected lawmakers – more than 100 – and the preponderance of Democratic ones. For now, Flanagan is working out of a temporary office in the Hart Senate Office Building, where she’ll be joined by a newly hired chief of staff and district director.

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