Freshman orientation is 'data overload' for congressman-elect Blum

CEDAR RAPIDS — Rod Blum started a software company from scratch and grew it to more than 300 employees, so he knows a little about the steep learning curve involved in undertaking a new venture.

However, learning the ropes as a U.S. representative-elect, he said, 'is like trying to get a sip of water from a fire hose.'

'Data overload' and 'sensory overload' are among the terms the Dubuque Republican used to describe orientation for incoming members of the U.S. House. Blum was elected Nov. 4, defeating state Rep. Pat Murphy, also of Dubuque, for the seat being vacated by Rep. Bruce Braley, who was unsuccessful in his bid to succeed Sen. Tom Harkin.

'I truly feel like a freshman again,' he said after six days of orientation. 'That feeling of not knowing where anything is, getting lost, trying to learn the ropes and the rules. It's fascinating and overwhelming what you have to learn.

'It's also very humbling,' he added, 'and an honor to be doing it.'

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Although Blum will take his oath of office in January, his work as a U.S. representative has begun. In addition to the orientation that included a freshman class photo-op and a lottery for an office, he's beginning to look for staff in Washington, D.C., and in field offices in the 20-county 1st Congressional District.

The two months between the election and the new Congress convening in January also is a time of transition for Braley. His staff is winding down its work and will move out of its Rayburn Office Building quarters before Thanksgiving to temporary space until his term ends.

Constituents can continue to contact Braley's Washington office at (202) 225-2911 and through his website, http://braley.house.gov/.

It's not known yet when Braley's field offices in Dubuque, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids will close, spokeswoman Kirsten Hartman said.

Blum expects to use the same offices in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, but likely will find a new location for a Cedar Falls-Waterloo area office. He also is thinking about either a fourth office or a mobile office that would visit as many communities as possible in the district.

The Braley and Blum staffs have been in contact to talk about casework that will be handed off in January, Hartman said.

'Our district staff still is actively working on the roughly 40 cases that are still open,' Hartman said. 'Those cases will either be transferred to Rep.-elect Blum when he takes office in January or, if the constituent prefers, they can be transferred to Sen. Chuck Grassley if they want their cases to be worked on immediately.'

Blum expects to hire about a dozen staffers with the budget he is given. He expects to have about four people in Washington, D.C., and seven to eight in the district offices.

'We want to be really good at constituent services, really good,' Blum said.

One of the highlights of freshmen orientation was the lottery for office space, which is allocated based on seniority.

Blum described it as 'like the NFL draft, but on C-SPAN' instead of ESPN. He drew 30 — right in the middle of the class of 57. His office will be 213 Cannon House Office Building, which is being vacated by Colorado Republican Sen.-elect Cory Gardner.

As exciting as the transition is for Blum and his staff, it's the opposite for Braley's staffers as they pack up his office and look for work.

It's not made easier by the traffic of members of Congress and their staffs looking for new office space.

Hartman said Braley chose his office for its proximity to the Energy and Commerce meeting rooms, committees he served on.

'People have been coming by to look at our current office as the shuffle begins' for new members and as incumbents look to upgrade their office space, Hartman said. 'I'll be honest, it's a tough and consistent reminder that we'll be leaving the office soon, but we understand that's the way it works.'

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