By Bob Katzen

Twenty-two newly elected state legislators, including 19 representatives-elect and three senators-elect, attended the biennial New Legislator Academy at UMass Amherst, which Senate President Karen Spilka’s office has described as “an opportunity for newly elected legislators to become familiar with experiences that they will encounter in the Legislature.”

According to the State House News Service, the agenda included nearly a dozen panels, speeches and sessions, covering topics such as the budgeting process, ethics and the cadence of legislative sessions.

According to Politico, a session on the media included “the recommendation that if a reporter calls, let it go to voicemail, or wait for them to send a text; find out what they’re calling about before you answer; and let leadership know what’s up – their office may be fielding the same questions.”