Booker Sworn In as Newest Senator

Former Newark mayor Cory Booker was sworn in as a Democratic senator from New Jersey on Thursday, taking the oath of office, exchanging hugs with Vice President Joe Biden and acknowledging the applause of friends and family members seated in the visitors’ gallery that rings the chamber.

Booker, 44, became the second African-American in the Senate, alongside Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina. He was elected to fill out the term of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died earlier this year.

His first day in office was a busy one. Before taking the oath, he and his mother met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and he was also scheduled to meet President Barack Obama.

Minutes after being sworn in, he participated in his first roll-call vote, supporting an attempt by Democrats to advance the nomination of Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Booker’s oath-taking gave Democrats control of 55 Senate seats, counting two held by independents. Republicans hold 45.

Earlier Wednesday, Jeffrey Chiesa, New Jersey’s outgoing interim senator, got a warm send-off from his colleagues.

“Every time I walk in there, it’s amazing,” he said after casting one of his final votes. “You’re going to go cast a vote, and then you’re on the floor having a chance to talk with all the decision-makers. It’s an amazing experience.”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor to praise his fellow Republican. He said that while Chiesa’s tenure has been short, it’s also been eventful, noting that he was present for the government shutdown in October.

McConnell also joked that Chiesa had to deal with 99 senators “pronouncing his name 99 different ways.” (It is pronounced “Kee-ay-sah.”)

Chiesa learned the Senate isn’t entirely genteel; McConnell said that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) threatened to “waterboard” Chiesa if he didn’t vote a certain way on a bill.

Chiesa, a former N.J. attorney general who was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie to fill out Lautenburg’s term, said that when his children grow up, he may consider running for office.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the November 1st, 2013 edition of Hamodia.