Barrasso to start in D.C. with Thomas' office, staff

By NOELLE STRAUB
Star-Tribune Washington bureau

WASHINGTON -- Like all new senators, John Barrasso will face a steep learning curve when he arrives in Washington, but in many ways will have a big jump on other freshmen.

Although his committee assignments remain up in the air, Barrasso will begin his Senate career with experienced staff in place, functional office space and the help of colleagues who have taken up some legislative priorities of the late Sen. Craig Thomas.

"I've spoken with Dr. John Barrasso and hope to have him in the Senate as early as Monday," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. "His energy, combined with the excellent staff that served Sen. Thomas so well over many years will allow him to get started right away, in what will be a busy legislative session."

Barrasso, in fact, is scheduled to fly into the nation's capital today, the first step in getting acclimated to his new position after being chosen Friday by Gov. Dave Freudenthal to fill Thomas' seat until November 2008.

While newly elected senators must use cramped, temporary office space until their regular office is ready, a process that sometimes takes months, Barrasso will not face that problem.

At least until the special election next year, Barrasso will occupy the offices used by Thomas on the third floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Thomas's staffers are still in the office, archiving all the documents and records from his career.

While Barrasso will have to decide which of Thomas's legislative efforts to pursue, some already have the backing of colleagues. For instance, a bipartisan group of senators banded together to rename and introduce a rural health bill in Thomas's honor.

Although he will have the least seniority in the Senate, Barrasso will have ready-made alliances if he chooses to continue the issues championed by Thomas.

McConnell will take the lead in assigning Barrasso to committees. Barrasso will not necessarily have the same committee assignments that Thomas had. In fact, Thomas's seat on the Senate Ethics panel has already been filled by Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., because the panel had pending business that needed full membership to proceed.

Other senators with seniority may want the seats on the four other committees Thomas served on: Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works, Finance and Indian Affairs.

No decision on committee assignments will be made until after Barrasso arrives in Washington and takes his place in the Senate, McConnell has said.

Over the next week, Barrasso will receive orientation from the Secretary of the Senate, Senate disbursing office, Sergeant-at-Arms as well and other administrative, security and legislative offices, McConnell said.

Vice President Dick Cheney, whom Thomas replaced as a member of the House of Representatives in 1989, called to congratulate Barrasso, a Cheney spokesman said.

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., welcomed Barrasso in a brief speech on the Senate floor.

"His efficiency is just unmatched; his knowledge of Wyoming and the issues, which includes energy and of course health, as he's an orthopedic surgeon, will make a great difference in our debate back here," Enzi said.

Enzi called him an extremely capable person and hard worker who will reach across the aisle. He also applauded the state Republican Party, its chairman and the governor.

"No one's going to be able to replace Craig Thomas, but working with John we can ensure the representation of Wyoming in the Senate will remain second to none," Enzi said.

Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo, said in a statement: "I look forward to working along side him to serve the people of Wyoming, and I stand ready to assist him in any way possible.. John has served Natrona County well in the state Senate and will take that excellent work ethic to the floor of the U.S. Senate."