ShareThisBy MICHAEL DOYLE
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Jerry McNerney is returning to school, 25 years after earning his Ph.D.
Now it's a cram course in applied political science, as the trained mathematician joins 52 other newly elected House members in orientation. The Capitol Hill coursework this week will prepare freshman lawmakers for the 110th Congress that starts in January.
"It's an enormous amount of information," McNerney said Tuesday, and adapting "is just a matter of taking one step at a time."
A Democrat who toppled incumbent Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, McNerney was speaking outside a third-floor caucus room. He's got a lot to learn before he starts representing Ripon, Manteca, Tracy and other cities in the far-flung 11th Congressional District.
Some lessons have been explicit in the sessions that began Monday. The new members have learned how they can hire up to 22 workers. They have learned they can charge taxpayers for news clipping services, drug testing of employees and office decorations _ but not for club dues. They have learned who to call if they lock themselves out of their offices.
And in a business where hours are long, marital strain is common and private lives are both precious and potentially dangerous, the newly elected are being lectured about keeping loved ones close.
"Keep the family involved," McNerney said, when asked his chief lesson so far. "That's going to have to be something we figure out."
McNerney said his wife will be staying in California for at least the first six months, while he learns his new job. The 55-year-old former consultant won't be entirely isolated, though; his son is attending law school at nearby American University.
Pombo's wife has likewise lived in California. So far, McNerney and Pombo have not swapped ideas or even talked since last Tuesday's election.
But while many Capitol Hill lessons are being expressly taught to the 10 women and 43 men of the House Class of 2006, others are being communicated implicitly. For instance: the transitory nature of political relationships and how leadership maneuvering works.
On Friday, House Democrats will choose the new House majority leader. McNerney could side with Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, the favorite of incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Or, McNerney could choose Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, championed by Blue Dog centrists like Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced.
Neither Murtha nor Hoyer helped out McNerney during his challenge to Pombo and, so far, McNerney said he is undecided in the race. Since arriving in Washington on the red-eye flight Sunday, McNerney has been hearing from both sides, including dueling receptions hosted by both sides.
"It's fairly aggressive," McNerney said of the ongoing campaigning.
McNerney was not the first choice of Democratic operatives to challenge Pombo, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee _ unimpressed by McNerney's 61 percent to 39 percent loss to Pombo in 2004 _ was relatively slow to invest in the race this year.
Now, McNerney is being embraced. The International Association of Fire Fighters _ which had contributed the maximum to McNerney's Democratic primary opponent _ illustrated the changing fortunes by contributing the maximum to McNerney the day before the election.
McNerney's own future positions remain in question. He has bid for the high-profile House Energy and Commerce Committee, but that's a hard position for a freshman to win. His background makes him a shoo-in for the low-key House Science Committee; he has also put in for agriculture and transportation.
Accompanied on this trip only by his campaign manager, A.J. Carrillo, McNerney has not yet hired any congressional staff but has been receiving resumes from would-be staffers. He is also beginning to appreciate what it will take to transition from campaigning to Capitol Hill.
"Governing," McNerney said, "is going to be more detail oriented; maybe, a little bit more mundane."
