Franken: 'I'm Ready To Get To Work'
In his first visit to the Capitol since being certified the winner of the '08 MN SEN contest, Sen.-elect Al Franken (D) struck a solemn tone, de-emphasizing his role in providing the Dems with a filibuster-proof majority and instead reassuring Minnesotans that he's focused on representing their needs.
"A lot has been made of this number 60," Franken said. "The number I'm focused on is the number two. I see myself as the second senator from the state of Minnesota."
Joined by an equally-staid Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid, who repeatedly called Franken, the comedian and ex.-SNLer, a "hard worker" and "a smart guy who is serious about issues," Minnesota's soon-to-be-junior senator said that he intends to "work day and night" on behalf of the people of Minnesota "to make sure that our kids have a great future and that America's best days lay ahead."
Franken said Minnesotans are "very practical people" who "want to make sure that the work we do here in the Senate makes sense, and that the decisions we make for the future have a strong return on investment." He listed a number of issues, including health care reform, energy policy and education, as his top priorities.
In introducing the Senate's newest Dem, Reid contrasted his own "hectic race," which "took six weeks before the results were in," to Franken's, which "took eight months." And he slipped in a reassurance -- as well as a warning -- to Senate GOPers worried about the new Dem majority.
"Democrats aren't looking to Senator Franken's election as an opportunity to ram legislation through this body," Reid said. "In turn, Senate Republicans must understand that Senator-Elect Franken's election does not abdicate from them the responsibilities to govern."
Franken will be sworn in tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., escorted by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and ex.-VP Walter Mondale. Per custom, the event will be followed by a re-enactment in the Old Senate Chamber.
Franken's office will be in the Hart Building; and the Pioneer Press is reporting that he'll hire a staff of at least 26 people.
After the presser, Franken spokesperson Jess McIntosh told reporters that Franken has not spoken to ex-Sen. Norm Coleman (R) since their "very gracious" phone call last week.
McIntosh added that Franken's daughter, Thomasin, a teacher, will be relocating to Washington soon in search of a teaching job.
(FELICIA SONMEZ)