Treasure Coast Republicans Posey, Rooney ready to be fresh faces in Congress

By Jim Turner, TC Palm
November 17, 2008

The Treasure Coast's new congressmen bring differing backgrounds with them to Washington, D.C.
One is a veteran state and municipal lawmaker who worked at the Kennedy Space Center during the Apollo era. The other is a first-time politician with a background in law, the military and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But both will be stepping into offices on the side of the aisle where they will have to work with and act as a check-and-balance to the majority party.
Republicans Bill Posey, 61, of Rockledge and Tom Rooney, 37, of Tequesta are to be the new faces of the Treasure Coast in Congress.
Posey's district covers all of Indian River County. Rooney's district has the bulk of the populated portions of Martin and St. Lucie counties.
Both are heading to Washington with Congress dominated by Democrats and a Democrat moving into the White House.
"If you're a Republican and a freshman member, you basically have no power at all," said Richard Semiatin, a government professor at American University in Washington, D.C.
That doesn't worry Posey or Rooney.
Posey started his Florida legislative career in 1992 in the same position.
"I don't call myself a maverick, but I've got a good, solid track record of working with both sides," said Posey, who is replacing Dave Weldon, a Republican who has been in the House since 1994.
Posey said he and Weldon, a longtime friend, talked for several hours after the Nov. 4 election, but Posey revealed few details about the discussion, which did include talk of potential committee assignments.
Posey listed the economy and addressing the problems on Wall Street as top priorities.
Posey said he wants to see more accountability and transparency in government spending. He also wants to see Congress work toward balancing the budget.
Rooney, a former Army JAG officer who taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said he doesn't plan to sacrifice his conservative values, but he also doesn't intend to head to Washington with an "us against them" mind-set.
"I think this is an exciting time in this country — the people voted for change. Even though I'm in the minority, I'm very excited about working across party lines," he said. "There is a reason why the Congress' approval rating is below 20 percent, and I think a lot of it has to do with the partisan nature and not getting anything done."
Part of the reason he believes he can work across party lines is that he already has a friend in Congress, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., who was a West Point instructor with Rooney before he ran for Congress in 2006.
"There are a lot of times while running for Congress where it's hard on you personally and on your family," Rooney said. "The fact that Patrick went through this two years before I did, it made life easier knowing that if he could do it, I could do it."
The biggest learning curve will be the system.
"What a freshman member will learn when they get up here is, 'Oh, my God. I've got so much to learn.' It's not just the policy stuff; it's the process," Semiatin said.
That's not to say they will be the least effective members, he said. Congressional leaders recognize freshmen lawmakers are vulnerable and will make concerted efforts to help them push pet projects.
"They know that bringing home projects and grants is more critical than it is for veterans very ensconced in their district," Semiatin said.
Even though he will be in the minority, Rooney said he intends to work as hard as previous district representatives. He also plans to seek appointments to House committees on armed services, energy and agriculture. With the district cutting across the central part of the state, the sitting and two prior congressmen representing the district all have sat on the agriculture committee.
"I'm not a farmer, but I definitely feel an obligation to the district. It's so agriculture that it should have representation," Rooney said.