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Jobs Debate Comes Amid Troubling Economic Forecasts

March 17, 12 a.m.

Weird as it is to write this, we are nearing the stretch run for health care reform. When it is finally past us — I share in the assessment of Intrade, the online market, that there is a much better-than-even chance of enactment — Congress will turn its attention back to the many other issues still on the plate.

Rough Week on Ethics Front Could Lead to Reforms

March 10, 12 a.m.

Last week was rocky on the ethics front for House Democrats, starting with the sturm und drang over Rep. Charlie Rangel (N.Y.), and it did not get much better at the start of this week. Rep. Eric Massa (N.Y.) did not take the admonition “No Massa” very seriously, going on media outlets to blast his party’s leaders, to blast Rahm Emanuel as the “son of the devil’s spawn” — apparently making him the grandson of the devil — and to offer his defense of his inappropriate comments.

Connection Between Money and Politics Gets More Troubling

March 3, 12 a.m.

Last week added some bad ingredients to the already deeply troubling connection between money and politics.

Here’s the Rx for a Bipartisan Health Care Reform Bill

Feb. 24, 12 a.m.

The health care reform summit on Thursday presents one of the most interesting and intriguing political challenges and dynamics I have seen. President Barack Obama is not handling it in a low-key way — he is telling everybody and anybody to tune in to the televised session, raising both its visibility and its stakes. Is there any chance that it can actually break our partisan division in at least a small way?

Fiscal Sanity and Political Sanity Are Needed on Budget

Feb. 16, 12 a.m.

Earlier this month, Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and former head of the Congressional Budget Office, presided over the annual Urban Institute Roundtable on the federal budget, where a broad-based group of budget mavens and economic experts gather for a few hours of off-the-record discussions on the president’s budget and its economic and political implications. It is always interesting and enlightening, and usually depressing.

Congress Must Act in Wake of Court Ruling on Campaign Finance

Feb. 3, 12 a.m.

The more we learn about the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the more ominous it becomes. Of course, the reality of justices reaching out and plucking a broad case from nowhere to overturn decades of practice, law and precedent is itself chilling, setting itself a new precedent for activism. But Justice Anthony Kennedy’s reasoning in Citizens United creates even more potential for chaos and disaster. The idea that corporations are the equivalent of people leads directly to the next step: direct contributions to candidates from corporate coffers, not just unlimited independent expenditures to influence campaigns.

Court Way Oversteps Its Authority With Citizens United Case

Jan. 27, 12 a.m.

In early January, I spoke to the Kentucky Legislature on the occasion of its annual ethics workshop, at the invitation of its admirable independent Legislative Ethics Commission. Kentucky, like many states, has a ban on corporate expenditures on campaigns written into its state constitution.

Time to Reassess Filibuster to Keep Senate Functioning

Jan. 20, 12 a.m.

I have addressed the filibuster issue many times in the past two decades, but it is worth addressing again. Several points are relevant.

Congress Must Re-Examine Its Role on Security Matters

Jan. 13, 12 a.m.

First, a comment on the retirement announcements of Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). These are real losses to Congress, the Senate specifically, and all Congress lovers. Both are great legislators, people who care about the process, care about people in the country in need, care about the craft of legislation. Both are just really nice guys. I won’t analyze the reasons for retirement, I am just sad to lose two terrific Senators.

Ornstein: Health Care Fight Shows Reid’s Skill, Senate’s Dysfunction

Dec. 22, 12:19 p.m.

Today’s topic, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, is the United States Senate, the World’s Greatest Dysfunctional Body. I cannot remember a Senate Majority Leader more maligned and disrespected than Harry Reid (D-Nev.), from across the spectrum. The most recent slap at Reid came from one of the most astute progressive commentators, Eugene Robinson, who said Reid has “made a bad situation worse” in the Senate on health reform. But he is only the latest in a long line.

Parties Behave as if Congress Operates on a Parliamentary System

Dec. 16, 12 a.m.

It was striking once again to see House Republicans unite last week and vote against the financial regulation package presented by Chairman Barney Frank’s Financial Services Committee.

Politics and Budget Constrain Congress’ Job-Creation Push

Dec. 9, 12 a.m.

The health care reform debate in the Senate is going to have a fascinating sideshow to watch. There are several must-pass measures Congress has to tackle before the year’s end — cleaning up budget and appropriations, some authorizations, including key parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, raising the debt ceiling, and passing measures such as an estate tax fix. Most are moving through the House on a reasonable timetable. But the Senate is wholly consumed with the health issue, each long day soaked up with delays and obstacles thrown out by the minority in order either to kill the bill or to delay it into next year. How can the Senate take time to do other things?

Senate Still Has Time to Get Health Care Reform Bill Right

Dec. 2, 12 a.m.

As the Senate takes up health care reform, it is hard to focus on anything else. There are plenty of other worthy topics, like Sen. Robert Byrd’s (D-W.Va.) milestone of service (and the absurdity of his position high up in the line of presidential succession). Or the fascinating struggles among Democrats over the proper role of the Federal Reserve System (and the appropriate level of Congressional meddling in the Fed’s deliberations and operations). Or the effect of the hacking of climate scientists’ e-mails on climate change legislation in Congress. Or the struggle over how to pay for Afghanistan, including how many ways we can parcel out tax increases on the wealthy.

Obama’s Record So Far: A on Transparency, D on Appointments

Nov. 18, 12 a.m.

As a state Senator in Illinois and as a U.S. Senator, Barack Obama built a reputation as a process reformer. He worked hard and had some notable success on ethics and lobbying reform. He also advocated good ideas on campaign and election reform, and brought more transparency to government, including his achievement — with unlikely Senate ally Tom Coburn (Okla.), a conservative Republican — of getting disclosure posted online of all entities receiving federal funds.

Pelosi’s Deal-Making Skills Helped Save Health Care Bill

Nov. 10, 12 a.m.

Whatever one thinks of the substance, and whatever happens from now on, the House Democrats’ victory Saturday on their health care reform package with only a single Republican supporter was a triumph of legislative maneuvering, with the biggest kudos going to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Any student of the legislative process had to admire and acknowledge the artistry of threading several needles at once to get that minimum winning coalition together.

Results Won’t Change Congress, but Election Has Many Implications

Nov. 4, 12 a.m.

Unfortunately, because of lead times, I have to write this long before the results of the Tuesday elections are in. So I cannot make intelligent post-dictions, much less stunning predictions, given that at least two of the three big contests — the New Jersey gubernatorial race and New York’s 23rd Congressional district — are as I write too close to call.

To Escape Economic Purgatory, Feds Must Spend More Money

Oct. 28, 12 a.m.

When I first heard about the plan to give every senior on Social Security $250 because there will be no cost-of-living adjustment, I laughed until it hurt. It hurt a lot.

Snowe Falls, but More Obstacles Remain for Health Care Legislation

Oct. 21, 12 a.m.

The health care reform debate is rapidly moving to some critical moments and critical choices in both the House and the Senate; the dynamics now raise fascinating questions about the process, the parties, the institutions and the norms inside Congress.

Health Reform Fight Will Raise Questions About Our Tax System

Oct. 14, 12 a.m.

First, a shout-out to Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who chronicled his extraordinary “district work period” adventure in the Washington Post on Monday. I don’t know many people who could survive a week alone on a desert island — much less write about it so compellingly.

House Leaders Have a Fiduciary Duty to Protect the Institution

Oct. 7, 12 a.m.

Let us start with Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), who took to the House floor last week to say that the Republican health care reform plan is to have people “die quickly.” It was an over-the-top, outrageous comment that has no place in civil discourse.

‘Son of Chafee’ Health Reform Bill May Be Most Likely Outcome

Sept. 30, 12 a.m.

The choice of Paul Kirk (D) to temporarily fill the vacant Senate seat in Massachusetts was a first-rate move by Gov. Deval Patrick (D). Kirk has done a first-rate, bipartisan job with Frank Fahrenkopf on the Commission on Presidential Debates, and he did a terrific job with the Profile in Courage awards, especially the gutsy choice of Gerald Ford for his pardon of Richard Nixon. Kirk is smart, savvy, civil and seasoned, just what one would want for a temporary appointment.

Edward Kennedy’s Gift to the Senate — and the Country

Sept. 23, 12 a.m.

After a brief protest from Massachusetts Republicans in their state Senate, the commonwealth is on the verge of changing its law to allow Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to appoint an interim Senator until the special election to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat can be held in January.

Wilson’s Outburst Did Dishonor to All of Congress

Sept. 16, 12 a.m.

'I hold the distinguished gentleman in minimum high regard.” That was the way former Speaker John McCormack (D-Mass.) would express his deep displeasure and anger at a colleague on the floor of the House. Call it the 1950s equivalent of “You lie!”

An Exciting Few Months Awaits All Congress Watchers

Sept. 9, 12 a.m.

Not exactly a recess, or even a “district work period” — more like a district angst period — this August was far more tumultuous and action-packed than most any I can remember. A core part, of course, was the intensity in districts and states all across the country over health care reform. But August also included the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), leaving a huge void in the policy sphere and in the life of Washington, D.C.

As Ethics Issues Swirl, the House Finally Has the Right Process

Aug. 5, 12 a.m.

Last week, the Washington Post had a story discussing potential conflicts of interest of the members of the House ethics committee over its investigation of alleged earmark irregularities linked to the lobbying firm PMA Group. PMA has close ties to a number of Members of Congress, including the powerful chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.). It turns out that the 10 members of the ethics panel have requested a number of earmarks from Murtha’s subcommittee.