Cornyn ready for challenges, including housing
Posted on 11/15/2002 1:59:13 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Cornyn ready for challenges, including housing
New senator gets eye-opener on prices, discusses priorities
11/15/2002
WASHINGTON - Texas' newest senator says he is eager to get to work on national security and confirming judges, but first he needs an office and a house.
Congressional leaders haven't assigned workspace to John Cornyn and other freshman lawmakers, and he and his wife are finding Washington's real estate market steep, the state attorney general said Thursday in his first news conference as senator-elect.
"Even for a fairly modest hovel here in the district, it's pretty pricey," he said.
Mr. Cornyn, a Republican who defeated former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk in the Nov. 5 election to replace retiring Sen. Phil Gramm, said he believes voters sent him to the Senate to help quiet partisan fights over things like homeland security and judicial nominations. Republicans, at least, will find that an easier task, having won control of the Senate that takes office in January.
 Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, gave her new colleague, John Cornyn, some insight into the demands he will face as a representative of a large state such as Texas. (AP)
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"I think the voters in part ... responded to the gridlock that they saw in the management of the Senate and felt like it was not serving the public interest well," Mr. Cornyn said.
While wife Sandy house-hunted, Mr. Cornyn has spent recent days speaking with future colleagues and other government officials, such as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. One subject of senatorial conversation is Mr. Cornyn's possible committee assignments.
"The great thing about the United States Senate is that even if you're not on a particular committee, you can still be a player on virtually any issue," Mr. Cornyn said. "To me, that's very appealing."
The former Texas Supreme Court justice said he would be interested in the Judiciary Committee, an arena of particularly intense political combat because of its role in reviewing President Bush's judicial nominees. But, Mr. Cornyn noted, committee assignments are at the mercy of the seniority system.
"I guess the most important consideration is, 'What's a new guy likely to get?' " Mr. Cornyn said.
Mr. Cornyn said he wants the Senate to confirm Priscilla Owen, the Texas Supreme Court justice whose nomination to the federal appellate bench was blocked by the Democratic majority on the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Cornyn raised that issue during his campaign against Mr. Kirk.
"I think the way she was treated was one of the reasons I got elected," Mr. Cornyn said.
Mr. Cornyn also said he is interested in promoting national security, particularly through Texas military installations, and improving access to health care, including a prescription drug plan for seniors. He also wants to see what can be done to help the economy, including assistance to businesses with terrorism insurance.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, paid tribute to her new junior colleague. Ms. Hutchison said she is talking to Mr. Cornyn about the new demands he will face on his time, especially given responsibility for a large and diverse state.
"Texas is like having 10 children in trouble," she said. "There's always somebody that is in a crisis."
Mr. Cornyn does come in with one advantage, Ms. Hutchison added: He doesn't have to worry about being in the minority.
"He's going to be spoiled," she joked. "He doesn't know what it's like."
Mr. Cornyn also tipped his hat to Mr. Gramm, calling him a "giant" who did a "fantastic job."
"I'm not Senator Gramm; I'm not a Ph.D. in economics," Mr. Cornyn said. "My background is different, but I'm going to do the best that I can to try to fill those shoes."
E-mail djackson@dallasnews.com
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