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December 3, 2009

Economy Fuels Democratic Rift

Congressional Democrats are steaming that their White House counterparts aren’t doing more to help them tackle soaring unemployment, even as lawmakers in both chambers roll up their sleeves to craft measures aimed at getting quick relief to struggling Americans.

War Costs Haunt Democrats

President Barack Obama’s plan to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan leaves Congressional Democrats scrambling to support their president as they agonize over the cost of his strategy — and their lack of viable ideas on how to pay for it.

Majority Plots a Counterattack

Senate Democrats scrambled on Wednesday to speed up the pace of debate on their $848 billion health care reform package in the face of strong Republican opposition that has stalled votes on amendments and jeopardized the legislation’s approval by Christmas.

Heard on the Hill: Chelsea's Engagement — A Long Slog

Who knew that Chelsea Clinton’s engagement and the White House’s Afghanistan strategy had something in common?

Printing Office Hit With Discrimination Suit

A recently filed lawsuit claims the Government Printing Office repeatedly denied promotions to a longtime employee because of his race, joining a handful of discrimination lawsuits and dozens of internal complaints against the agency.

Finance Reform Ignites Lobbying Blitz

Financial services lobbyists are going on the offensive trying to force significant concessions to the financial regulatory overhaul making its way through the Senate.

Graham Stands by Bargaining

As he prepared for a late Wednesday meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss potential options for shutting the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, detention center, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) defended his high-profile efforts at bipartisanship, arguing that he has a responsibility to find common cause with Democrats when he can.

Tanner Could Land Prosperous Perch on K Street

While the Blue Dog Coalition co-founder’s retirement is causing Democratic discomfort on Capitol Hill, moderate Rep. John Tanner’s (D-Tenn.) approaching departure is generating considerable optimism on K Street, where the Member could soon be greeted with a seven-figure payday.

Obama Persists on Broad Front as Polls Drop

President Barack Obama has so loaded up the policy circuits this month that you’d expect a government-wide blackout any minute.

Will Marshall's Senate Campaign Equal Her Recent P.R. Campaign?

Over the past few weeks, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D), who is challenging Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), has been on a public relations offensive.

House Should Create Committee on Cybersecurity

Recently, I sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) asking that Congress establish a new Select Committee on Cybersecurity. While it’s a problem we’d rather not think about or deal with, a significant cyber-incident could pose a major threat to our country by disrupting commerce and our ability to defend ourselves. Indeed, experts from the military and the private sector agree that we are not doing enough to prevent a cyber-9/11.

Parties Differ on Tanner Impact

Republicans on Wednesday touted Rep. John Tanner’s (D-Tenn.) announcement that he would step down at the end of his 11th term as a sign of a deteriorating political environment for the majority party and a harbinger of more Democratic retirements to come.

Boy Scout Crossing

The latest cartoon from R.J. Matson.

Capuano Closing Fast in Massachusetts Senate Primary

Rep. Mike Capuano’s bid for Massachusetts Senate has been gaining momentum, and he has succeeded in narrowing the Democratic primary contest to a two-person race between himself and frontrunner Martha Coakley, a number of party strategists and Massachusetts political observers say. But with the Dec. 8 election just days away, Capuano has yet to prove he has the ground strength to overtake Coakley, who has the advantage of a statewide campaign infrastructure thanks to her successful campaign for state attorney general.

Massachusetts Republican Candidate: An Optimist but a Realist

Scott Brown harbors no illusions about the difficulty of being the GOP standard-bearer in the special Senate election to replace liberal icon Sen. Edward Kennedy (D).

Kansas GOP May Have an Abundance of Candidates

Kansas Republicans like to think of their race to succeed Rep. Dennis Moore (D) as having too much of a good thing.

Shop Talk: In the Hands of Justin

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan (D) has hired Justin Schall to be his campaign manager in his nationally targeted race against Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.).

Maryland: Ivey Formally Exploring Bid Against Edwards

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey (D) is forming an exploratory committee in the coming days for a possible primary challenge to 4th district Rep. Donna Edwards (D).

Pennsylvania: Barletta to Reveal 2010 Plans on Wednesday

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta (R) plans to announce next week whether he’ll seek a rematch with Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D) in 2010.

Illinois: Republican Lays Out the Green for TV Spot

The first Republican is on the air in the race for Rep. Mark Kirk’s (R) suburban Chicago seat. The ad buy is significant for businessman Dick Green (R), who is relatively unknown in the district with the GOP primary coming Feb. 2.

Kentucky: Pizza Magnate Hopes to Deliver Seat to GOP

Louisville restaurant owner Jeffrey Reetz (R) announced Wednesday that he will challenge Rep. John Yarmuth (D) in the Bluegrass State’s 3rd district next year.

New Hampshire: Gregg Hosts Fundraiser for Would-Be Successor

Retiring Sen. Judd Gregg (R) hosted a fundraising lunch Wednesday for former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, whom the National Republican Senatorial Committee recruited to run for his open seat in 2010.

Minnesota: Oberstar Gets on Clark's Campaign Train in 6th

State Sen. Tarryl Clark (D) continues to round up Democratic establishment support for her campaign to unseat Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) in the 6th district. The latest endorsement comes from Rep. James Oberstar (D), the powerful chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who has represented the neighboring 8th district for 18 terms.

D.C. Is All Decked Out for the Holidays

Nothing punctuates the holiday season like the traditionally strung bright lights and festive décor that grace department store windows, parade floats and city streets. And there are plenty of sights to see in the District this winter, many of them free or inexpensive.

Exhibit Recalls Poland's Long Road

Twenty years ago, few people could have imagined that the third of the world’s population living under communism would have it so good today.

Sit Back With December Film Fests

As just about everyone in Washington eagerly anticipates closing out 2009, two upcoming festivals will make the final stretch of the legislative year a little more bearable.

Photo From the Attic: Recalling Infamy

Lt. Mary Lohr, an Army nurse who served at Bataan in the Philippines, and Lt. Robert Laub, a bomber pilot at the Battle of Midway, spoke to war workers on Dec. 7, 1942, the first Pearl Harbor Day, one year after the “date which will live in infamy.”