The 2006 midterm elections are over. But there’s no rest for the winners. Future West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney’s realizing how much there is to get done before Congress starts in January.

Newly elected lawmakers flew in to Washington, DC this week to start freshman orientation. Beverly Bell of the Congressional Management Foundation says the most important decision lawmakers must make immediately is who to bring on their congressional staff.

“If you hire a bad chief of staff or a chief of staff that is not right for you that’s very difficult. It’s going to set you back a long way because that chief of staff has a lot of responsibilities getting your office set up.”

Mahoney says he’s already receiving hundreds of resumes to work in his Congressional offices. But he will have fewer openings than most freshmen.

“We’re going to hold on to most of former Congressman Foley’s staff. I don’t care if they’re Republican or Democrat. They did a great job for Congressman Foley and the 16th district.”

Mahoney says he wants to stay a bit of an outsider in Washington. He’s spending this week learning parliamentary procedure and will vote in Democratic Leadership elections.

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Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez successfully brokered a compromise on immigration reform with both Republicans and Democrats. The compromise legislation written by Martinez and Nebraska Republican Chuck Hagel would divide illegal immigrants in to three groups based on length of time living in the U.S.

Jill Morrison reports from Capitol Hill.

President Bush addressed an array of domestic issues in his State of the Union Address last night. Our Capitol Hill reporter Jill Morrison was there and got Florida lawmakers’ reactions to the speech.

President Bush addressed an array of domestic issues in his State of the Union Address last night. Our Capitol Hill reporter Jill Morrison was there and got Florida lawmakers’ reactions to the speech.

Democratic Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings is challenging the Republican majority in the US House. He filed a discharge petition that would force the House to consider an independent commission to investigate Hurricane Katrina response. Jill Morrison reports from Capitol Hill.

Fourteen arrests have been made for false claims in Miami-Dade since four hurricanes swept through Florida last summer. The arrests lead to a Congressional investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It found 5000 people in Miami were given money for dubious reasons. Jill Morrison has more from Capitol Hill. (AUDIO)

Florida's Senators will cancel out the State's vote in The Foreign Affairs Committee. Republican Mel Martinez and Democrat Bill Nelson will vote along party lines on the nomination of John Bolton, President Bush's nominee to serve as Ambassador To The United Nations. Jill Morrison has more from Our Capitol Hill Bureau. (AUDIO)