Brown arrives in Washington, meets with senators

UPDATED:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen.-elect Scott Brown came to Congress Thursday, proclaiming Washington needs help in solving U.S. problems because “we’ve sort of lost our way.”

Still basking in the glow of his stunning victory over a Democrat in the liberal state of Massachusetts special Senate election, Brown said he looks forward to getting to work. “I plan to look at every bill and make a rational decision,” said Brown, speaking to reporters outside a Senate office building after he arrived in Washington. .

The pickup truck-driving candidate who caught the imagination of his state’s voters called Washington “the best place in the world when it comes to solving problems,” if the system is working properly.

He immediately went to visit Sen. John McCain, a staunch campaign supporter, and also had visits scheduled with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, and Massachusetts Democratic Sens. John Kerry and Paul Kirk.

Brown will replace Kirk, who was temporarily filling the seat that the late Sen. Edward Kennedy held for 47 years.

Asked to say precisely what he hopes to accomplish here, Brown replied, “I’m certainly not in favor of higher taxes and cutting Medicare half a trillion.” Medicare is the government-run health care plan for the elderly.

Inside McCain’s office, Brown said he expects to be sworn in sometime next week.

Surveying the crush of cameras and reporters, Brown said, “It’s a little overwhelming seeing you all here. I understand it will calm down and we can all get to work.”

He added: “People want good government. They want transparency, they want us to solve problems.”