The Statehouse environs were veritably giddy today with people who’d been freshly elected. Something about having people go to the polls and put a check next to your name must infuse you with something caffeine can’t quite do.

House Speaker Gaye Symington and Gov. Jim Douglas took turns saying that the Democrats’ newly earned veto-proof majority wouldn’t change much about their working relationship. Some in the halls were a little dubious it would be that simple.

One way or another, the sense of new-year-at-school change was in the air. Who will be pro tem of the Senate now that Peter Welch is headed to Washington (former pro tem Peter Shumlin and Majority Leader John Campbell are duking it out)? How many committee chairmanships will change in the House and Senate? Will there be retribution for those who proposed Revolt and Repeal over the property tax? All questions that don’t have answers just yet.

Anybody have predictions on pro tem? How about committee shuffling?

— Terri Hallenbeck