Guthrie joins fellow freshmen for D.C. ‘orientation’

Congressman-elect Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) is joining more than fifty fellow newcomers to the U.S. House in Washington, D.C. this week for an orientation, where they will be briefed on house ethics rules and vote for leadership positions in advance of the actual swearing-in ceremonies for the 111th Congress.

"We feel that we are coming here to be a statesman," Guthrie told the Associated Press in Washington.

The class of 2008 posed for a group photo on the steps of the U.S. Capitol yesterday and sessions with Congressional veterans are planned in which norms of the federal legislative bodies are set to be outlined to the newcomers.

One of the most basic yet significant decisions will also be made during the orientation - the location of Congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Incumbent members often enjoy the largest and best located offices, while freshman are left to scramble for the rest.

Guthrie arrives this week in Washington to fill the seat vacated by retiring incumbent U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Cecilia).

A spokesperson for Guthrie told PolitickerKY.com there was no news yet on staffing for Guthrie's D.C. office and whether he would retain any of Lewis' staff.

The spokesperson also  did not indicate when Guthrie would resign the state Senate seat he currently holds.