The Silver Spring Penguin

Maryland’s newly minted legislators got their first lick of Annapolis life last week at an orientation meeting for the General Assembly. The 45 newbies got crash courses in ethics regulations, budgets and how to draft a bill. No crying was reported.

But even the state’s new boss quipped about information overload. “You emerge more dizzy than you did when you went in,” governor-elect Martin O’ Malley told The Gazette.

Silver Spring’s elected crew is an even split of experienced legislators and nubile virgins. Sheila Hixson has been in da House of Delegates since 1976, and delegate-elect Heather Mizeur served on Takoma Park’s city council. Delegate-elect Tom Hucker and senator-elect Jamie Raskin, however, have never held public office.

No problem, House Speaker Michael E. Busch told The Gazette. Senior legislators are standing by with paddles in hand to keep those freshmen in check.

“If you think you have the answer to everything, your colleagues are going to be the first to bring you back in line,” Busch said.

“Newcomers to Annapolis Get Oriented” (The Gazette)