Welcome, Congress

Sen. Byron Dorgan says the economy is the new Congress’ first priority, but the wish list is long.

Obama Promises a New Approach to Hill

January 26, 2009

Former President George W. Bush, fresh from re-election in 2004, was preparing to launch his massive bid to overhaul Social Security with individual accounts carved out of the system. But some Republican leaders were wary. They dispatched staffers to advise Bush aides that jumping onto the third rail of U.S. politics was not a popular idea among segments of the GOP caucus, and that it might not pass. Better to do immigration reform first.

Heard on the Hill: Predictions for an Unpredictable 2009

January 26, 2009

No one really knows what 2009 will bring — after all, who would have thought, a year ago, that we’d be talking about a depression that can’t be helped by Zoloft, or that Trig was anything other than a high-school math class?

Lobbyists Mixed on 111th Prospects

January 26, 2009

With Democrats now in the White House and Congress, lobbyists are facing a new world order with a reinvigorated legislative agenda.
Ordinarily, that would spell boom times in the industry. After all, with an unprecedented pool of money for American industry, lobbyists would seem to offer that extra advantage needed to beat out competitors for a piece of the pie.

Democrats Hope to Avoid Pitfalls of 1994

January 26, 2009

For the first time in 16 years, Democrats control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. So while it’s hard to remember a time when optimism among the party faithful has ever been this high, a few voices of caution can still be heard.

2009 Marks a Year of Notable Anniversaries

January 26, 2009

The year 2009 will go down in history for many reasons, and not just because the first black president was sworn into office. In fact, this year will be full of history-making events and milestone anniversaries for a number of Members of Congress.

• Senate Seniority List
• House Seniority List

The Rules Are the Same; So Are the Worries

January 26, 2009

The 111th Congress will march forward largely under the ethics regime enacted by the previous Congress — and that may be a good thing, according to private-sector attorneys who specialize in ethics compliance. That’s because lobbyists, corporations and even Members are still grappling with how exactly to comply with the gift rules and disclosure requirements Congress imposed last year.