Conn. Democrats Welcome Their Freshmen
CTFROSH
New London Day
Margaret Stevenson
Boston University Washington News Service
November 14, 2006
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 —Democratic members of the Connecticut delegation gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning to welcome presumptive incoming colleagues Joe Courtney and Chris Murphy.
“I want to welcome Chris Murphy and Joe Courtney to Washington,” Sen. Christopher Dodd said.
Speaking at a podium flanked by Connecticut flags, Dodd said that last Tuesday’s election results showed the nation that the people wanted change. He said both Courtney and Murphy ran good, strong campaigns and really talked about the issues.
“It is an honor to be here,” said Courtney, who as of Tuesday afternoon had a slim lead over incumbent Rob Simmons in the 2nd District race that has yet to be officially decided.
Courtney said he was very excited to get to work in two months in the 110th Congress.
“This is a very exciting day for the congressman-elect,” said Brian Farber, spokesman for Courtney. Farber said Courtney met with likely Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and had been busy going through new member orientation.
Even though the recount process in his race was not expected to be completed until late Tuesday evening, Courtney has been considered the congressman-elect because he held a lead. Farber said the results from the last towns were expected Tuesday evening.
Courtney said it was still premature for him to discuss expectations about his actions in the 110th Congress.
Dodd joked that he was confident in Murphy because Murphy is Dodd’s mother’s maiden name. Dodd said he was confident in Courtney because the 2nd District is the district Dodd represented in the House in the 1970s before being elected to the Senate.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of the 3rd District advised the new members to “savor the moment.”
She added that making a difference in the lives of the people is what service in Congress is all about
“That’s why Joe Courtney and Chris Murphy are here,” DeLauro said. “We stand united together and we are going to show this nation that we can govern.”
Rep. John Larson from the 1st District said, “Connecticut will expect great things and we will deliver.”
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