In House, Freshman Democrats Make a Stand.

[elleng]

Some of the freshmen say they are willing to take the heat as long as they can have some say in shaping the legislation.

“We wanted to tackle the problems that neither party has had the guts to face for the last few decades, and we are ready to take them on even if that is unpopular,” said Representative Tom Perriello, a Virginia freshman who narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent. “But only if we feel what we are doing is actually solving the problem and not just patching it up.”

Mr. Perriello said August could amount to a monthlong town-hall-style meeting to allow Democrats to explore health care with residents of their districts. He and other freshmen said that as recent survivors of competitive races, they had a good sense of how to gauge public opinion and act accordingly.

“We all just finished very tough races,” said Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut. “Very few of us are in safe Democratic districts. So we listen very, very hard.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/us/politics/31frosh.html?hp

[comtec]

1. OMG a freshman who is DOING THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE!!

If my rep's wheren't so awesome, i'd demand this of them as well!

[MsLeopard]

2. Rahm is probably

recruiting someone to run against him as we type....