Newly elected members of Congress may still be waiting to take office, but that hasn't stopped them from beginning at least one official task - weighing in on issues with press releases
When President Barack Obama announced his immigration executive action plans last week, congressional Twitter users and press release writers unleashed a flurry of messages for and against the move. Members-elect in the House and Senate added their voices to the chorus.
Incoming Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) issued his first post-election press release to make a statement honoring Veterans Day, but followed it last week with his first on policy. He applauded Obama, but called for congressional action on immigration reform.
Aguilar pressed for the same step on Twitter, calling for the House to follow the Senate's lead on immigration.
Incoming Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who becomes the only Jewish Republican in Congress after Rep. Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) loss, issued his first statement on the Jewish synagogue attack. But he followed it as well with his thoughts on Obama's action, condemning it as ignoring the will of the American people and their votes Nov. 4.
Zeldin said he has spent the past week at freshman orientation and new members on both sides want to "find common ground to move our country forward."
Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) has already taken office after her Nov. 4 win, and her first press release was to praise Obama's action and call for immigration reform in the House. She also released a statement on the death of longtime D.C. mayor Marion Barry.
Incoming Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.) may not be issuing press releases yet, but he has been active on Twitter since election day denouncing Obama. He tweeted a link to a banner on his campaign website after the immigration announcement.
"Obama is ignoring you and putting politics above the law," he tweeted. "Tell him you will not be ignored!"
