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June 2, 2009

Health Reform Gets New Push

The White House is privately reinforcing to Capitol Hill that health care reform is its immediate and top priority, prompting new questions about the timing and future of climate change legislation.

Kennedy, Baucus Face-Off Looms

Democratic heavyweight Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.) and Edward Kennedy (Mass.) could be on a collision course over health care, with the powerful committee chairmen set this month to mark up and then reconcile competing reform bills that are shaping up along conflicting tracks.

Pelosi-Murtha Bond Resilient

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had served in the House for only six months when she first caught the attention of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.).

Road Map: GOP Laying Out the Opposition to Sotomayor

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor today begins the time-honored practice of visiting with each Senator prior to the start of confirmation hearings, with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) first in line.

Heard on the Hill: How Do You Spell Relief?

You know a party went awry when news stories about it include the phrase “stool sample.”

Hurdles Confront Visclosky Probe

Federal investigators examining Rep. Peter Visclosky’s (D-Ind.) ties to a now-defunct lobbying firm could face constitutional hurdles if they hope to examine how earmarks were doled out to the firm’s clients.

Honda Enlists Public in Web Design

Like many Members of Congress, Rep. Mike Honda Tweets his day-to-day thoughts, posts hearings on YouTube and friends constituents on Facebook.

Morning Business: Spending on Security

The Federal Election Commission ruled last month that Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) will be allowed to spend campaign funds on a home security system.

Campus Notebook: Old-School Editing

Virginia Saunders has more than six decades of memories at the Government Printing Office, from rooting on the agency’s softball team to attending dances in one of the building’s large rooms.

May a Member Use a Staffer as a Personal Assistant?

I am a staffer for a freshman Member of the House with a question about filling out our boss’ staff. We have one more position to fill, and our Member would like to hire someone who has served as his personal assistant for the past eight years. Over the years, the personal assistant has done a little bit of everything for the Member, including scheduling, driving, laundry — even baby-sitting his children. Our chief of staff has concerns about whether someone on the House payroll can perform duties like these. May the Member hire his longtime assistant to perform these duties as a House staffer?

It's Time to Start Talking About the Budget Deficit

Note that the headline says “talking” rather than “doing” something about the federal budget deficit.

Sotomayor's Critics Should Read Her Speech

Critics of the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court have made much of her comments in a 2001 speech at the University of California, Berkeley. In that speech, amid a discussion of the continued lack of real diversity on the bench and the crucial role that women and people of color played in groundbreaking civil rights cases, Sotomayor said: “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

Capitol GM

The latest cartoon from R.J. Matson.

Judicial Marvel

The latest cartoon from Mike Mikula.

GOP Eyes Open-Seat Race if Sestak Moves On

Rep. Joe Sestak’s (D) anticipated 2010 Senate bid would immediately put his southeastern Pennsylvania district in play and give Republicans a shot at regaining some of the territory lost over two disastrous election cycles.

Leadership PACs Grow Popular for Freshmen

There was a time when it was considered poor form for a freshman Member to open a leadership political action committee immediately after being elected. And opening one before being elected was almost unheard of.

Nation: NRSC Effort Targets Young K Street Donors

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is launching a new program, dubbed “The Network,” to reach out to younger donors on K Street.

Minnesota: Disputed Senate Race Has High Court Debut

Attorneys for Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken delivered statements before the Minnesota Supreme Court on Monday morning, marking the beginning of the end of the 2008 Senate race’s legal journey in the Gopher State.

Oklahoma: Coburn Announces He Will Run Again in 2010

Sen. Tom Coburn (R) announced Monday that he plans to seek re-election next year, putting to rest speculation that the conservative physician who has earned the nickname “Dr. No” for his staunch opposition to earmarks might be ready to leave Capitol Hill after one term in the Senate.

Florida: As Gelber Steps Aside, Brown Enters Picture

Rep. Kendrick Meek got some good news and some bad news over the weekend in his effort to secure the Democratic nomination in the race to replace retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R).

Connecticut: New Dodd Ad Features Obama's 'Shout-Out'

Faced with his toughest re-election challenge to date, Sen. Chris Dodd (D) is up on the airwaves with his first television advertisement — more than 16 months before the election.

California: Bono Mack Declines to Answer Questionnaire

Who will this hurt more in the end?
In the 45th district, where Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet (D) is offering perhaps the toughest challenge yet to Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R), the top newspaper in the district, the Palm Springs Desert Sun, has started a regular feature where it is asking the candidates to weigh in with their opinions on various issues of the day.

Kansas: Another Republican Enters 1st District Race

State Sen. Jim Barnett has joined a crowded field of Republicans looking to succeed Rep. Jerry Moran (R), who is running for Senate in 2010.

Utah: Third Republican Poised to Join Senate Contest

The Beehive State’s Senate GOP primary field is starting to get crowded.

Georgia: Local Official Enters Primary With Mosley

Highly touted GOP recruit Wayne Mosley won’t have the Republican primary field to himself in next year’s race against Rep. John Barrow (D) in the Peach State’s southeastern 12th district.

A Boozy Socialite's Morality Tale

Adultery, booze, gossip, name-dropping — it’s all just part of the game in a new book about the young, fabulous and wealthy in Washington, D.C. But perhaps the juicy novel should also be required reading for interns and new Hill staffers.

Art Blooms in Navy Yard

The Navy Yard is quickly becoming a hot spot to be this summer. In addition to being home to Nationals Park, the up-and-coming neighborhood is hosting Artomatic, a large-scale art show that features more than 1,000 artists.

Intern in the Know: The City Is Alive With the Sound of Free Concerts

Washington can be an expensive place to live — especially when you’re a summer intern being paid in workplace experience. So while the five-star restaurants and trendy bars might be a little out of reach, interns can listen to live music virtually any time throughout the summer without paying a single cent.

Bedford, Va., Honored in Wartime Documentary

In 1944, a band of soldiers from Bedford, Va., known as Company A, left their small town to fight for their country on the shores of Omaha Beach. Out of 30 soldiers who remained in the company on D-Day, 19 of them never came back.