Mar 13, 2009  |  By: Chris Johnson  | COMMENTS     

A quick glance around the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis shows the first-term Democrat from Colorado is still settling into his job.

There’s nothing affixed to the lemon-hued walls in his workspace at the Cannon House Office Building, except for a full-length mirror and a framed copy of the building’s emergency evacuation plan. One hutch is empty; another has only a plush donkey and a book on women lawmakers who have served on Capitol Hill.

But Polis is already collecting memorabilia. Perched on a shelf near his desk is an autographed copy of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “Know Thy Power,” a certificate granting Polis honorary membership to the Broomfield Democratic Party in Colorado and a picture of the newest federal lawmakers.

Polis, 33, is part of a new wave of lawmakers elected to this year’s freshman class. After being sworn into office in January, he became the third sitting openly gay member of Congress. He’s also the first non-incumbent openly gay man to be elected to serve on Capitol Hill.

An online entrepreneur, Polis made his money selling greeting cards and flowers over the Internet.
In 2004, Fortune magazine estimated his personal wealth at $160 million.

It’s been an eventful time for Polis in the two months he’s worked as a member of Congress. He was in Denver last month when President Obama signed into law the $787 billion stimulus package. Polis said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who’s served in Congress since 1997, turned to him and fellow freshman lawmaker U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey (D-Colo.) during the signing and told them, “You know, it’s not always like this.”

“Here we are,” Polis says, “after two months in office, having the president come to our state and sign an $800 billion stimulus bill. It’s been an exciting time to serve and we jumped right into the middle of things.”

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Polis’ office functions with an expertise that belies its sparse décor and young staff. Plans are prepared. Meetings are facilitated. No moment is left unused.

On one recent workday, Polis is expected to attend a Rules Committee hearing, manage bills on the House floor, plus meet with representatives from the National Treasury Employees Union, the American Legion and the Society of American Florists.

“Part of the role as a representative is just to listen to your constituents,” Polis says. “When they come in, they’re looking for somebody who’s willing to listen to them, to spend time with them, understand what their issues are, to see how we can help them.”

He says two or three meetings often take place in his office at one time. His press secretary, Lara Cottingham, says so many groups from Colorado seek his attention that staffers rotate the visitors through different rooms.

With major bills such as the fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill and President Obama’s fiscal year 2010 budget request pending before lawmakers, Cottingham says it’s “March Madness,” with people wanting Polis’ attention to get a piece of the spending.

“When you are going through the appropriations cycle,” she says, “every single group wants to come in and talk with the congressman and make sure they get their voices heard before we start rolling these huge bills, so it’s just a constant meeting marathon.”

Into the excitement, Polis brings an ambitious political agenda for LGBT issues. As co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, he’s in a position to help push pro-gay legislation through Congress, such as the trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which is expected to come before lawmakers this year.

Once it’s introduced, ENDA has to win approval from lawmakers in the Rules Committee and the Education & Labor Committee — two committees on which Polis sits — before it reaches the House floor.

It remains to be seen how prominent a role Polis will play in getting Congress to approve ENDA, but his committee assignments mean he’ll have a voice early in the process as lawmakers consider details of the legislation. He says he intends to co-sponsor ENDA and has talked with U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the chair of the Education & Labor Committee, about taking an active role in pushing it.

A usual day for U.S. Rep. Jared Polis includes meeting with constituents from Colorado, conducting work by phone and traveling the labyrinthine connecting tunnels underneath Capitol Hill. (Blade photos by Meaghan Gay