FroshUpdate: Marino Pushes Federal Hiring Freeze

Tom Marino proposes a federal hiring freeze even as the government is shedding government jobs, Randy Hultgren is rethinking his opposition to the Patriot Act in the wake of bin Laden’s death, and Ginni Thomas – wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas and a Daily Caller employee – will be visiting with freshmen offices soon.

And, because it’s Friday, more pictures of Rep. David Schweikert’s adorable dog, which is apparently taking D.C. by storm. #CharlieTakesDC This is FroshUpdate for May 6, 2011.

Driving the Day: U.S. economy added 244,000 jobs in April; unemployment rate rises to 9 percent.

FREEZE ACT U.S. Rep. Tom Marino(PA-10) introduced legislation on Thursday that would freeze most federal hiring until the federal deficit is eliminated. The Federal Hiring Freeze Act of 2011 is the first bill introduced by Marino since he took office on Jan. 5. Marino said the bill calls for a “responsible” freeze on the federal workforce, allowing for what he calls “common-sense exceptions” during times of war or for law enforcement, and national security concerns. http://bit.ly/j62VPj

Note: Jobs numbers released this morning show that the federal government is not hiring, on net. In fact, the federal government shed 2,000 jobs this past month. State/local governments shed another 22k.

SECRET TO TOWNHALL SERENITY: Rep.Diane Black (TN-06) derived it from the three town halls she’s had over the past couple of weeks. “Once you tell [seniors] that anyone over the age of 55 won’t be affected, they are on board,” Black said. “And for people in their forties and younger, they already know they aren’t getting benefits" at current government spending levels. http://bit.ly/iPSKsT

GINNI THOMAS ON THE HILL: The Daily Caller employee and wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, is continuing her efforts to reach out to GOP freshmen. According to Politico. Mrs. Thomas has been corresponding with freshman chiefs of staff, and has already been able to snag Rep. Chip Cravaack (MN-08) for a video interview. http://politi.co/lcNj0G

FroshUpdate is a regular look at how the freshman class is making news. Add us on twitter strong>@freshmenFF<, or tell others to join our mailing list by emailing strong>frosh@frumforum.com< with ’subscribe’ in the subject line. If you add us on Twitter, we promise not to make any more terrible Grimm puns.

@REPDAVID’S DOG:

• @RepDavid:RT @oliver1776: Guess who walks holding his own leash... #CharlietakesDChttp://yfrog.com/hscs5sbj
• @RepDavid:Charlie w friend at the @bigcheesetuck. he's liking automobiles that drive around giving out food. #CharlietakesDC http://yfrog.com/h8hu3vbj
• @RepDavid:Charlie joining Dad and @VirginiaFoxx for a walk to the Capitol for votes. #CharlietakesDC http://yfrog.com/gydrsmaj

RETHINKING PATRIOT ACT: Bin Laden death sparks new talk over Patriot Act… Freshman Republican Randy Hultgren(IL-14) had no problem voting against extending the Patriot Act in February. But the death of Osama bin Laden, just weeks before part of the terrorist-fighting law expires, raises new questions for the Illinois congressman. "It hasn't changed my mind, not yet," Hultgren said this week. "I want to see that we're doing it in a careful way, that we're seeing results from it."http://bit.ly/lg6E7G

KINZINGER WANTS IN: Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), who was traveling in Afghanistan the day before bin Laden was killed, said the al-Qaeda leader’s death bolsters the case against a speedy withdrawal. “This isn’t the end of the war in Afghanistan,” Kinzinger said. “This is an uppercut to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. But this stresses that now that we’re on the offense and now that we’re really making gains, now is not the time to reverse those gains. http://wapo.st/jusqLN

WEST: PRAYER AS A SOLUTION - “This America is rooted in a Judeo-Christian faith tradition, which finds its cornerstone of communication, prayer,” Allen West (FL-22) said, who cited the Founding Fathers’ acknowledgement of God’s role in the nation’s destiny. http://bit.ly/jyu8gg

LONG AND HUCKABEE: Rep. Billy Long (MO-07) sat in on a private reception with potential GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on Wednesday. Long, who was endorsed by Huckabee in 2010, reported the former governor of Arkansas saying that he was undecided about a presidential run, and that news outlets that declared that Huckabee was leaning one way or another "do not know what they are talking about." http://politi.co/krtfzx

A rougher version, on Twitter: “@Auctnr1: Huckabee 'people that say they definitely know I'm not running don't know- those that say they definitely know I am don't know- I don't know”

RECOUPING COSTS: Billions of taxpayer dollars could be saved by disposing of unneeded federal property, according to a newly introduced bill by Congressman Jeff Denham (CA-19). With the Civilian Property Realignment Act (HR 1734), Denham proposes to expedite the process by which federal civilian property is taken out of federal inventory or otherwise consolidated or reconfigured in order to save taxpayers on operating costs and reap the proceeds from their sale. http://bit.ly/l9s7HQ