Incoming legislators learning how to be senators

The freshmen class of incoming Nebraska State Senators has a boot camp of sorts this week. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, who defeated incumbent Cap Dierks of Ewing for the 40th District seat last week, says he and four others will be in Lincoln to learn about the legislative process.
Larson says he’s heard it’s intense. The clerk of the legislature, Patrick O’Donnell, has been there since the 1960s and is very revered. Larson says he’s heard you just go, sit and listen to O’Donnell explain everything and you don’t interrupt.
Larson, who has worked for a number of politicians, says this is a very different feeling. “Now that I’m stepping into those shoes, it’s a little bit surreal,” Larson says. “I worked hard and I knew what I wanted and now that it’s come and the day’s finally here, I’m really excited to step up.”
Larson, 24, who will be the youngest senator in the legislature, says he knows a lot is expected of him and there will be a big learning curve.
He says he’ll focus on five or six bills that he really wants to work on but realizes he’ll be doing a lot of listening and learning to develop a reputation of someone who can be trusted. Larson says he would like to land on the Natural Resources and Agriculture committees, if possible.
Thanks to Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton
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