Guide to Congress 2009
September 14, 2009
Democrats were swept into power in 2009 vowing to deliver change, but they have found those promises hard to keep and fear next year will prove even more challenging. Despite having control of the White House and Congress, internal divisions and partisan rifts tripped up Democrats’ early legislative priorities such as health care reform and climate change.
September 14, 2009
On Inauguration Day, Congressional Republicans were facing a bleak and lonely future — their ranks had diminished by two consecutive electoral defeats and they were facing a newly emboldened Democratic majority poised to enact a laundry list of legislative priorities.
September 14, 2009
The movers and shakers behind the scenes on Capitol Hill.
September 14, 2009
If House Republicans want to win back the majority next Congress, their primary targets will likely be freshman Democrats. And with the first candidate filing deadline two months away, the National Republican Congressional Committee has had some success in recruiting candidates to run against almost two dozen first-term Democrats in competitive districts.
September 14, 2009
Freshman Democrats came to Congress in January ready to act on their party’s top priorities. But now, nine months into the 111th Congress, the excitement of being in charge of government is giving way to the drudgery that is governing. And the likelihood of Democrats advancing the ambitious agenda that they set out for themselves — namely, passing health care reform and climate change bills —is starting to wane.
September 14, 2009
Perhaps one of the best indicators of a Member’s obscurity is how long it takes for a C-SPAN producer to identify him when he begins speaking on the House floor.
September 14, 2009
Lobbyists are rarely cast as knights in shining armor doing the work of the people in Washington, D.C.
September 14, 2009
Almost a year after President Barack Obama’s historic victory and Congressional Democrats added to their majorities in both chambers, headhunters claim that lobbying shops, trade groups and corporate offices continue to prefer Democratic talent — when it’s available — though Republicans are hardly being shut out.
September 14, 2009
Since the Capitol Visitor Center opened nine months ago, officials have often touted its benefits — from shortening tour lines to providing visitors with amenities such as bathrooms and food.
September 14, 2009
Even membership in Congress’ most exclusive club couldn’t insulate lawmakers from the economic downturn. According to Roll Call’s annual examination of House and Senate financial disclosure forms, while the 50 richest Members of Congress remain financially flush — each with a minimum net worth of nearly $5.5 million — many of them suffered significant financial losses in 2008.
Interactive Chart of the Richest Members’ Wealth
Ketchup Is King on 50 Richest List
