Congress ushering in new members, with old divide

Associated Press ^ | Jan 3, 2013 3:14 AM EST | Donna Cassata

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Congress is ushering in the new and the old—dozens of eager freshmen determined to change Washington and the harsh reality of another stretch of bitterly divided government.

The 113^th Congress will convene Thursday at the constitutionally required time of noon for pomp, pageantry and politics as newly elected members of the House and Senate are sworn in and the speaker of the Republican-controlled House is chosen. The traditions come against the backdrop of a mean season that closed out an angry election year.

A deal to avert the “fiscal cliff” of big tax increases and spending cuts split the parties in New Year’s Day votes, and the House’s failure to vote on a Superstorm Sandy aid package before adjournment prompted GOP recriminations against the leadership. …

There are 12 newly elected senators—eight Democrats, three Republicans and one independent, former Maine Gov. Angus King, who will caucus with the Democrats. They will be joined by Rep. Tim Scott, the first black Republican in decades, who was tapped by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to fill the remaining term of Sen. Jim DeMint. The conservative DeMint resigned to lead the Heritage Foundation think tank. …

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Year is 2013 and we have the 113^th Congress. Not the year for triskaidekaphobes, I would imagine.