Mr. Bradley Goes to Washington
By Tia Carioli and Gregory Chisholm
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2002–Congressman-elect Jeb Bradley recently found himself lost in the Capitol. He is slowly getting adjusted to Washington DC. NHPR correspondent Gregory Chisholm has more on Bradley’s congressional orientation.
I’m looking around so that I make sure that I have my orientation so that I walk in the correct way–There’s the Capitol! Alright…
LAST WEEK, JEB BRADLEY SPENT HIS TIME LEARNING HIS WAY AROUND THE U.S. CAPITOL.
BRADLEY WON ELECTION TO CONGRESS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRST DISTRICT EARLIER THIS MONTH.
AND SINCE THEN HE’S BEEN GETTING FAMILIAR with the rules and procedures of Congress as well as the layout of the city.
I’m trying to, as you saw walking over here, make sure I orient myself in terms of geography. I you go on all of the tunnels under the Capitol, there’s always signs telling you where you are and where you are going, but I like getting outside.
Bradley doesn’t like being cooped up indoors.
An experienced climber, he enjoys the open SPACES.
My top criteria for an office is windows that open…(Why is that)…I like fresh air.
TROUBLE IS, SENIOR MEMBERS GET FIRST PICK OF THE OFFICES IN A LOTTERY SYSTEM.
FRESHMAN Bradley will likely get one of the last choices.
BUT Setting up his office IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
HE’S ALSO GOT TO ASSEMBLE A STAFF AND FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.
ALL THAT’S GOT TO BE DONE BEFORE JANUARY 7th, that’s WHEN THE 108 CONGRESS is sworn in.
THAT’S WHEN HE BEGINS LIVING A SPLIT LIFE.
WEEKDAYS, HE’LL BE IN WASHINGTON.
HE PLANS TO SPEND THE WEEKENDS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH HIS FAMILY…AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.
I’ll have the portabello sandwich…
Sitting at lunch in Union Station near the Capitol BRADLEY ENHANCES his meal by mixing a vitamin C powder in his grapefruit juice…
Don’t be grossed out by this…
he says HE BEGAN THIS DAILY RITUAL WHEN HE OWNED a natural food store for 16 years.
THE former state legislator DISTINQUISHED HIMSELF AS A BIT OF A DETAIL MAN.
SOME MIGHT CALL HIM A POLICY WONK.
AND THAT HASN’T CHANGED IN WASHINGTON.
HE’S ASKED TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE HOUSE Transportation committee.
HE WANTS monitor the WIDENING OF Interstate ninety three BETWEEN MASSACHUSETTS AND MANCHESTER.
Highway users AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE anxious TO FINISH the project quickly.
BUT THEY’VE butted heads with environmental groups AND LOCAL RESIDENTS who are trying to PROTECT THE STATE’S WETLANDS.
I would hope that the parties can sit down around a table and negotiate a resolution that’s not overly costly to the State’s highway fund and drivers eventually and does not delay road projects, but at the same time does the job and mitigates the environmental impact.
BRADLY’S answer is reserved, balanced and careful.
HE’S learning the political rhetoric so common to politicians.
But THE WASHINGTON NEWCOMER still lacks the image-consciousness seen in seasoned pols.
In THIS city titles dictate status and access is power.
BUT Bradley STILL introduces himself simply as Jeb and gives out his personal cell phone number. He arrived without a staff member or press-handler.
He apologizes for being late.
HE SAYS someone told him that if he is on time in Washington, he’s wasted fifteen minutes of his life.
And he readily admitted not completely understanding a vote he’s ALREADY cast.
IT TOOK PLACE in a Republican organizational meeting.
IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH CREATING greater accountability for the Appropriations Committee.
There were people for it, people against it…I thought that not really knowing the ins and outs and the people and all of that, it just seemed to make sense to me.
Many consider Bradley more moderate than John Sununu, the Republican he replaces in the Congress.
Perhaps because my record in the legislature on working to resolve particular environmental issues and I’m pro choice, perhaps that has something to do with it.
But Bradley says he COMPLETELY SUPPORTS President Bush’s POLICY ON the wars on terrorism and Iraq, and the tax cut.
(Walking through leaves)
ON HIS WAY back to the Capitol BRADLEY IS RUNNING late for his next meeting.
Bradley spoke to his wife earlier about the color of the foliage in New Hampshire.
He’s been in Washington only a week and he can’t wait to get home.
For NHPR News, this is Gregory Chisholm in Washington
Broadcast on New Hampshire Public Radio, in New Hampshire.
