It is tough being a freshman. Your dead last in seniority, get assigned the least desirable offices, and have to work twice as hard to get your voice heard. So this weekend, I decided to give newbie lawmakers a chance to be heard on Face the State.

We were joined Sunday by newly elected state representatives Mitch Bolinsky and David Arconti. Bolinsky is a Republican from Newtown, and Arconti, a Democrat from Danbury. Due to their districts, both are deeply impacted by what happened in Newtown.

The two freshmen were both asked about gun control, school safety and the other big issue at this legislative session, the economy and the budget deficit.

It’s been a big week for freshmen on the political television show circuit. Newly minted U.S. Senator Chris Murphy was on Face the Nation this past Sunday, just days after being sworn in.

You can watch the interviews with Representatives Bolinsky and Arconti, right here: http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8179075

Also, we had a great flashback this Sunday: rare footage from our archives of the Civic Center collapse, which happened 35 years ago this week. Watch it here: http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/the-hartford-civic-center-collapse-of-1978/