Caddo Parish's two freshmen lawmakers jumped into the legislative fray without hesitation this spring.

     District 1 Rep. Jim Morris, R-Oil City, and District 4 Rep. Patrick Williams, D-Shreveport, underwent the ritual hazing new lawmakers face when Morris
they introduce their first bill. They learned about the dash to keep up with bills as they
move from committee to House floor to Senate chamber. They experienced a few light bulb moments and developed a to-do list for next year's session.

     Morris, who turned 53 during the session, enjoyed a birthday serenade from the House. He realized, three days later, that he had to pony up for a cake.
"It was the first time in my life I had to buy my own cake," Morris said, laughing. He and Williams realized that kind of focused attention is rare in a room of talkers’ looking to build crucial relationships.

     "I'm thinking everyone is going to be alert and studious," Williams said. ''When I went to the microphone, I taught everyone was going to sit and listen. They're actually lobbying far their bills, some are joking and what have you. That was a big surprise for me."

     State Rep. Joe Salter, speaker of the House of Representatives, praised Morris and Williams. They're among 13 freshmen legislators with whom Salter worked in the past three and a half years. Those two particular legislators did a real good job," Salter said. They were eager to learn and felt comfortable asking questions of those of us who have been here a while. I think they're both going to be very fine and capable legislators."

     Salter said the pair faced a different situation from that of previous first-time lawmakers. 'They came in at a time when we actually had money," Salter noted. "It wasn't the deal of ‘How do we establish priorities'."

     Williams set out to make an impression on his fellow lawmakers. He proposed a bill that would give homeowners with a mortgage same of the interest banks and other mortgage companies hold an escrow accounts into which the homeowners pay throughout the year, 'They were expecting it wouldn’t get out of committee," Williams said. "It did. Then when it went to the (House) floor, I knew it was going to be a fight I came out with boxing gloves."

     Morris said one of his chief lessons was in how much power committees have. Five of his six bills passed the gauntlet of House and Senate committees on their way to becoming law. 'They can decide what they hear and what they pass forward," Morris said. "I wanted to make sure the bills I chose had a great opportunity of going completely through the process." Both lawmakers said they're grateful for the guidance of more experienced legislators.