Mr. Schiff goes to Washington

Alex Coolman

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) was sworn in as the the

representative of the 27th Congressional District Wednesday, and he moved

quickly to make his first announcement as a member of the House.

Schiff immediately pledged his support for the

Shays-Meehan/McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill that would ban

soft money donations to federal campaigns.

The fast start was in keeping with an energetic spirit that Schiff

said he finds to be common with the new crop of legislators.

“I’m hopeful that we can add a spark to the body, and that I’ll help

bring that about,” he said.

Wednesday’s swearing-in was attended by the astute political

commentator Alexa Schiff, the congressman’s 2-year-old daughter.

Alexa found the ceremony, which went by alphabetical roll call,

fascinating -- at least at first.

“She lasted from the As to the Cs, and then she went racing around the

floor,” Schiff said.

Have the legislators themselves been any better behaved? Schiff said

the talk about the potential for bipartisanship cooperation in the 107th

Congress doesn’t seem too farfetched.

“There’s a very strong spirit among the incoming class that we need to

develop a new ethic in Congress. We need to be very committed to working

in a bipartisan way.”

Schiff’s allegiances already bridge the partisan gap to a degree. He

has joined the groups known as the “Blue Dogs” and the “New Democrats,”

both of which emphasize centrist economic positions.

“They’re very strong on deficit reduction,” he said of the Blue Dogs.

“That’s something I’m very much committed to. The most important thing

for us to keep our economy healthy is to continue paying down the

national debt.”

As for the emphasis on campaign finance reform, Schiff said that’s an

issue whose importance was driven home to him by his own run for office.

The campaign was the most expensive in House history.