GOP’s New Crop for Congress Is a Seasoned One

So much for the era of the Republican citizen-legislator.

Almost without exception, the 17 House GOP freshmen who begin their orientations in Washington today are seasoned politicians. That’s a far cry from the restaurateurs, accountants, veterinarians, dairymen and vintners who formed the shock troops of the Republican revolution in 1994, when about half the 73-member freshman class was made up of novices.

“Everybody said this was the year of the incumbent. But it was really the year of the pol,” said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political analyst.

“The public generally rewards experience in politics. It’s only when they get angry do they deviate,” he explained. “And the voters were a happy lot this year.”

Judging from records, campaign pronouncements and interviews, the GOP Class of ’98 is dominated by pragmatists with mainstream agendas. They prefer what one calls “pocketbook issues” over conservative social controversies or partisan confrontation--a reflection of Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.), the speaker-apparent.

As Livingston seeks to mediate the raging ideological struggle between give-no-quarter conservatives and those with a more conciliatory approach in the GOP-controlled House, the pragmatism among the GOP newcomers may allow them to exert an influence on their party’s direction and the public agenda disproportionate to their numbers or lack of seniority.

Of the 23 Democratic House freshmen, 21 have government service on their resumes. They too may wield considerable power because of the narrow margin that Republicans hold in the House: 223 to 211 (with one independent, who usually votes with Democrats). That means a mere swing of a half-dozen votes can spell the difference between victory or defeat.

A key factor producing the bumper crop of political veterans among freshmen of both parties are the term limits recently imposed around the country, which prompted many career politicians at state and local levels to run for Congress.

“Ironically, term limits were supposed to bring in revolutionaries and citizen-legislators,” said Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

California’s newly elected representatives vividly underscore the trends among the freshmen. Four of the five are veterans of the state Legislature: Republicans Steven T. Kuykendall of Rancho Palos Verdes and Gary Miller of Diamond Bar, and Democrats Mike Thompson of St. Helena and Grace F. Napolitano of Norwalk.

The fifth newcomer, Republican Doug Ose of Sacramento, is a businessman. But he is not exactly a novice in the political arena, having led a successful 12-year drive to incorporate the city of Citrus Heights in Sacramento County.

Conference Call Among Freshmen

The GOP freshmen already are showing their savvy. They explored common concerns in a conference call Tuesday.

“There will be some things we have disagreements on,” Kuykendall said in an interview. “That’s why pragmatism becomes very important.”

He said that politicians who enjoy the greatest successes are those “who know what their core beliefs are, know where they want to go--and know that getting there is not always a straight line.”

Kuykendall, 51, is a pro-abortion rights, two-term assemblyman who supports banning assault weapons. The former Marine was a real estate broker before going to Sacramento, where he served as Republican whip.

During his campaign, he touted crime-fighting initiatives and education reform. He is replacing Rep. Jane Harman, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Miller, 50, was a city councilman and mayor of Diamond Bar. He was elected to the Assembly in 1995 and chaired the Budget Committee.

The conservative has worked with Democrats on economic and trade issues. He said that his priority will be to “downsize the federal bureaucracy.” Miller is replacing Rep. Jay C. Kim, who lost June’s GOP primary in the wake of his conviction for receiving illegal campaign contributions.

Ose, 43, is a wealthy real estate developer who was strongly supported by the National Federation of Independent Business, a powerful small-business advocacy group. A social moderate and fiscal conservative, Ose wants to overhaul the tax code and reform public education.

“I know there are those who put social issues high or at the top of their agenda. And I respect that,” Ose said. “But those are not issues at the top of my agenda.” He is replacing Democratic Rep. Vic Fazio, who retired.

Aside from the California contingent, 12 of the other GOP freshmen have government service backgrounds, ranging from school board president and city council member to state legislator. They include a minority leader in the New York House, a majority whip in the North Carolina House and a Senate majority leader in Oregon.

Most of the GOP freshmen have been in touch with House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas and his two challengers, Reps. Jennifer Dunn of Washington and Steve Largent of Oklahoma.

In that spirited race for the No. 2 leadership post, Rep. Bill Thomas of Bakersfield on Wednesday became the latest key Republican to endorse Armey. Thomas did so after briefly considering making the race himself.

The two Democratic freshmen from California also are retiring state legislators. Thompson, a member of the California Senate since 1990, was chairman of the Budget Committee. Napolitano has served in the Assembly since 1993 and chaired the International Trade and Development Committee.

In the Senate, seven of the eight incoming members, including the four Republicans, also are experienced officeholders.

“Freshman classes usually have a real influence, especially in the first few months, because they are the embodiment of the newest mandate from the people,” said Sabato. “And if they organize well, I’d expect them to moderate the House--and the Senate--and produce some bipartisanship.”