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Delaney Gets A Head Start On The Hill

Md. lawmaker is one of many freshmen learning the ropes

By: Matt Laslo // November 19, 2012
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After beating Maryland Republican incumbent Roscoe Bartlett in the general election, Congressman-elect John Delaney is in D.C. learning how to maneuver his way around Capitol Hill. 

The Capitol is a strange, intimidating place for newcomers. It has its own, often unwritten, rules of decorum. Then there's the massive written code of ethics; stray from it and you may lose your job, or worse, end up behind bars. So Delaney and other freshmen are spending the next few weeks soaking it all in. 

"I think the advice that I've gotten that's the best advice which is just to take it slowly," Delaney says. "You know, we're all coming here to do something and I've always thought in life you need to focus on the experience and the outcome."

Delaney says a lot his time is being spent forging relationships.

"I've met some people on the other side of the aisle where we have a lot of preexisting mutual relationships that I didn't even know about," Delaney says. "So under the category that the world is quite small I've developed some good friendships on the other side of the aisle already."

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly referenced U.S. Senator-elect Tim Kaine's reasoning for not granting an interview to WAMU 88.5 for this story. Kaine was simply unavailable to comment.

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