On December 6, unless something extraordinary happens, Senator John Campbell will be elected the new congressman for California’s 48th District. But once he’s elected, half-way through the 109th Congress, what’s next?
First, he will immediately come to Washington to be sworn in by the Speaker as the 435th most powerful member of Congress and join the freshman class of the 109th Congress. He will assume Chris Cox’s spacious suite in 2402 Rayburn until the end of 2006 when he will select an office commensurate with his seniority which will likely bump him over to Longworth or Cannon (the usual first stop for freshman).
The House Republican Steering Committee (the committee on committees) will either be convened for a special meeting to determine Campbell’s committee assignments or it will be done more informally via email or phone to the 28 members of the Steering Committee who have a total of 33 votes (Speaker gets 5, Majority Leader has 2, one for each other). The Steering Committee is made up of representatives of the leadership, A-committee chairman, regional representatives, big state representatives, and a member of freshman class and sophomore class.
Early bets are that Campbell lands on the powerful Financial Services Committee. There are four "exclusive" or "A" committees, three of which are chaired by Californians, that freshman don’t even get considered for: Appropriations, Ways & Means, Rules, and Energy & Commerce. Financial Services is considered the next in line. By exclusive, you are to serve only on that committee. Most members are entitled to serve on no more than two committees unless they request and are granted a waiver which must be signed by that Member’s current committee chairman and agreed to by the Steering Committee.
Additionally, Campbell will receive a prorated budget for the final month of the year. Each congressional office is allocated approximately $1.4 million to fund all staff, offices, travel, mail, computers and equipment, etc. They can set this budget in whatever manner they choose and the only limitation is on the number of staffers that can be employed. Campbell will need to move quickly to establish a skeleton staff to get him through the year.
Among the items Campbell will be lucky enough to vote on will be the tax reconciliation package authored by Ways & Means Chairman Bill Thomas; the remaining appropriations bills; and HOPEFULLY immigration reform. Congress is tentatively scheduled to be in session Dec. 6 – 15 and then adjourn for Christmas.