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March 20, 2006

Private Account Language Fails

In a little-noticed vote last Thursday, the Senate went on record, apparently for the first time, against President Bush’s proposal to set up personal investment accounts under Social Security, with some unexpected Republicans helping a unified Democratic Caucus defeat the nonbinding proposal.

Boehlert Hangs Up His Spikes

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, the senior Republican in New York’s Congressional delegation and a leading House moderate, announced Friday that he would not seek a 13th term.

Rep. Sabo Calls It a Career

Rep. Martin Sabo (D-Minn.) announced Saturday that he will retire at the end the 109th Congress instead of seeking a 15th term, as he previously said he would.

Botched-Bill Plaintiff No Stranger to Controversy

When it became known that the $39 billion budget reconciliation bill signed last month by President Bush raised serious constitutional questions — embarrassingly, the language in its House and Senate versions did not match up — it was only a matter of time before someone filed suit to block it.

GOPers Chide Daschle

A pair of senior Senate Republicans lashed out at former Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) because of his association with a liberal 527 group that is trying to mount a permanent campaign against GOP Senators not currently facing re-election.

Ethics OK’d Staff Role at Burns Center

The Senate Ethics Committee signed off last year on a unique arrangement between the office of Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and the Montana State University telecommunications center that bears his name.

Operation Shoe Find

Operation Smile spokesmodel Jessica Simpson escaped Capitol Hill in such a hurry Thursday to resume shooting a movie in New Mexico that she forgot her shoes — two pairs, to be exact. (No telling how many pairs she brought with her!)

Leaders Go Forth, Raising Money During Recess

House leaders from both sides of the aisle will celebrate their brief St. Patrick’s Day recess by hitting the fundraising trail for their colleagues.

House Democrats Wary of Impeachment, Censure

Last week’s unexpected move by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to seek a censure of President Bush over his domestic wiretapping program has drawn a strikingly cool reaction from his fellow Senate Democrats. Apparently, most House Democrats are feeling equally wary about censuring or impeaching the president.

GOP Picks Up Pace With 2-Minute Votes

Seeking to consolidate time as House Members slogged through dozens of proposed amendments to the $91.9 billion emergency spending bill Thursday, Republican leaders resurrected a tactic that hadn’t been used in nearly 20 years: speed voting.

Business Group Backs Lobbying Reforms

One of the few business-backed groups to push for campaign finance reform has thrown its weight behind lobbying overhauls and tighter government ethics.

Ethics Bill Set for Brief Return Next Monday

Senators could vote as soon as next Monday on whether to add to their ethics overhaul a key provision that establishes an independent office to oversee compliance with lobbying laws.

Roche, Amgen Engaged in ‘Arms Race’ on Patent Law

A furious lobbying effort between F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Amgen Inc. has fueled big spending on K Street and led to both drugmakers hiring heavy-hitting firms and high-profile former government officials.

Democrats Should Declare Censure Move ‘Irresponsible’

The best thing that can be said about the call by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to censure President Bush is that practically none of his colleagues is backing him up.

Weak Reforms

At last, the House GOP leadership has produced a lobbying reform package, but in almost every area of concern it’s weaker than what the leaders had originally promised — except for putting campaign finance controls on 527 political committees, an idea that is distinct and should be done in separate legislation.

An Empire State Headache for Republicans?

Looking for a sign of whether a big Democratic wave is developing? Try New York.

Proposed Rules Would Strengthen Democratic Primary Process

As the 2008 presidential nomination season approaches, the Democratic Party has undertaken its most significant rules revisions since the Hunt Commission of 1981-82.

A Campaign That's Worse Than Its Bite?

The latest cartoon from RJ Matson.

2 Battles in Chicago’s Suburbs

Primary voters in Illinois go to the polls Tuesday to decide the Republican and Democratic nominees in two high-profile Congressional races in suburban Chicago.

Dakota Legislator to Take on Pomeroy

North Dakota state Rep. Duane DeKrey (R) hopes to break the stranglehold Democrats have on federal representation in the Sioux State, announcing Friday he’ll challenge Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) in November.

Parties Test Messages on Social Security and Medicare Drug Plan

With Congress gone for the St. Patrick’s Day recess, there’s a flurry of activity on both sides of the aisle over the Medicare prescription drug plan.

Montana: State Senator Ponders Republican Primary Bid

A prominent Republican said late last week he might challenge Sen. Conrad Burns (R) in the June 6 primary — but he must decide by Thursday.

Roll Call Casualty List

A look at who lost, who's retiring and who's moving on after the 109th Congress.

Getting to the Root of the Bard

Back in the late 1980s, a book landed Matthew Cossolotto, a former speechwriter to then-Speaker Jim Wright (D-Texas), on the front pages of newspapers across the country.

With Spring Comes Tree Time in D.C.

More than 1 million people are expected to flock to Washington, D.C., in the next few weeks with hopes of catching a glimpse of the area’s 3,000 famous cherry blossom trees in full bloom.

Pombo Pushes for Site for Vietnam Visitor Center

Two and a half years after Congress first authorized the construction of an underground Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center at or near the famous black granite wall, and with no end in view for the site selection process, Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) has decided to take matters into his own hands.

Capito Names Press Secretary

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced the hiring of Jordan Stoick to serve as press secretary in her Washington, D.C., office.

Leaders Vow to Clean Up Potomac Watershed

An eclectic mix of government leaders from around the region gathered at the World Bank’s headquarters last week, vowing that the Potomac River watershed will be clean by 2013.

Out on a Limb

Your challenge during the recess is to identify what kind of tree Alvaro Ortiz is pruning. Just kidding (although we will tell you next week). Actually, the goal this week should be to determine what building is behind him.