Pennsylvania Avenue
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
The mood of America is glum. Two-thirds of the public is dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country and voters anti-incumbent mood is approaching 1994 and 2006 levels, when control of Congress changed hands.
Congress Inside Out
Nov. 18, 12 a.m.
As a state Senator in Illinois and as a U.S. Senator, Barack Obama built a reputation as a process reformer. He worked hard and had some notable success on ethics and lobbying reform. He also advocated good ideas on campaign and election reform, and brought more transparency to government, including his achievement with unlikely Senate ally Tom Coburn (Okla.), a conservative Republican of getting disclosure posted online of all entities receiving federal funds.
Procedural Politics
Nov. 17, 12 a.m.
I am often asked by foreign visitors to explain the differences between the House and Senate. My first reaction is to offer up a night and day comparison, but that would put them in the same galaxy and time zone. A more accurate analogy would be that the House and the Senate are as different as light and molasses, for they truly do operate at different speeds and in different universes. Theyre not even parallel universes because quite often theyre working at cross purposes (is there such a thing as perpendicular universes?).
A Question of Ethics
Nov. 10, 12 a.m.
Q: I am an in-house lobbyist for a major health care provider that is providing an H1N1 flu vaccine clinic this Saturday. It is widely expected that there will be an enormous turnout. A Representative called me today and asked if there is any way that her family could receive the vaccine a day early. She has two young children and wants to make sure they receive the vaccine before we run out. We really do not want to say no, as we hate the idea of the Representative possibly spending all day waiting in line with her family, let alone not getting the vaccine at all. I discussed this with my supervisor, and the plan we came up with is to allow the Representative to come the day before the vaccine clinic. This way the vaccine will not be a gift, and we will not be violating any rules. Is that right?
Fiscal Fitness
Nov. 17, 12 a.m.
One of the things you learn quickly when you spend any time on Capitol Hill is that you never use the phrase omnibus appropriation in mixed company. In this case, mixed company means any group of people that includes a current or former Member or staffer of the House or Senate Appropriations committees.
Heard on theHill
State of the Art
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
Sen. Al Frankens unique skill of drawing an accurate map of the United States from memory is pretty darn impressive, but it looks like the Minnesota Democrat has some emerging competition on the artistic front.
The RoseGarden
Obama Becomes the Private Communicator
Nov. 16, 12 a.m.
For months, President Barack Obama was like an ATM for the media, dispensing answers to questions with what seemed like just the push of a button.
RoadMap
Reids Health Bill Push May Spell Weekend Work
Nov. 17, 12 a.m.
If youve got a dog in the health care reform fight, you might want to keep this weekend open for another nail-biter vote this time in the Senate.
CampusNotebook
Serving Early Birds
Nov. 18, 12 a.m.
Members and staffers who cant wait until next week for a plate of turkey and mashed potatoes can head to the Senate cafeterias on Thursday for a Thanksgiving spread.
MorningBusiness
Byrd Flies to New Heights
Nov. 18, 12 a.m.
Two days before his 92nd birthday, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) will be feted on the Senate floor today as the longest-serving Member of Congress.
Face Time
Updated: Nov. 17
Find out which Members of Congress have appeared most often on Sunday news shows in 2009
Democrats Confident as Marathon Saturday Session Begins
Nov. 21, 9:44 a.m.
The epic battle for health care reform gets its first big test on the Senate floor tonight, with Democratic leaders feeling confident, though not yet assured, of getting the 60 votes necessary to beat back a GOP-led filibuster.
Obama Reports on Asia Trip as GOP Hits Health Bill Effort
Nov. 21, 6 a.m.
President Barack Obama used his Saturday radio address to defend his just-completed trip to Asia, arguing the visit will help open a new era of American engagement that will boost domestic efforts to right the economy. But Sen. Mike Crapo (Idaho), in the GOP response, continued the Republican assault on Democratic health care reform plans, charging that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) legislation will result in higher premiums and higher health care costs for Americans period.
Democrats Leaving No GOP Health Care Critique Unchallenged
Nov. 20, 10:27 p.m.
With the Senate preparing to vote Saturday on whether to consider a $848 billion health care overhaul bill, national Democrats on Friday launched a rapid response system aimed at blunting each GOP criticism of the bill.
Despite Ailing Mother, Baucus Will Return for Saturday Vote
Nov. 20, 6:06 p.m.
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) will be in attendance during the Saturday night vote on a health care reform bill that he helped write, his office said.
White House Strongly Backs Reids Health Reform Bill
Nov. 20, 6 p.m.
The White House formally endorsed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) version of health care reform late Friday, calling it a historic step forward.
GOP Leaders Press Obama on Afghanistan
Nov. 20, 5:48 p.m.
House Republican leaders reiterated their concern on Friday that the Obama administration has endangered troops in Afghanistan by engaging in an extended review of the situation in the troubled region before sending additional forces.
Levin Says Panel May Have to Punt on Dont Ask, Dont Tell
Nov. 20, 4:54 p.m.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Friday that his panel may not call a hearing to review the militarys dont ask, dont tell policy this year, as originally intended.
Senate Phones Disrupted by Deluge of Calls
Nov. 20, 2:07 p.m.
A deluge of phone calls is causing problems with the Senates voice mail system, prompting officials to ask staffers to regularly delete their messages.
GOP Senators Warn Democratic Centrists Against Voting to Begin Debate
Nov. 20, 1:15 p.m.
Senate Republicans kicked off an offensive heading into Saturdays health care reform vote on Friday, warning vulnerable Democrats against voting to begin debate on the measure and challenging the bills price tag.
Nelson Will Vote to Begin Debate on Health Bill
Nov. 20, 12:44 p.m.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) ended weeks of speculation by announcing Friday that he will vote to start debate on the Senates health care reform measure when the roll is called Saturday evening.
Obey Seeks War Tax; Pelosi Signals Dwindling Support for Buildup
Nov. 20, 12:19 p.m.
With new polls showing increased opposition to the war in Afghanistan and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) casting doubts on her Caucus being up for another round of troop deployments, leading House Democrats are now calling for a war tax to make all Americans share the cost burden.
Restaurants to Open for Senate on Saturday
Nov. 20, 12:15 p.m.
Senators and staffers stuck on Capitol Hill on Saturday wont go hungry: Officials announced Friday that they are keeping two restaurants open.
Byrd Celebrates 92nd Birthday After Setting Record
Nov. 20, 12:11 p.m.
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) celebrated his 92nd birthday Friday, two days after setting the record as the longest-serving Member of Congress.
Ethics Admonishes Burris Over Senate Appointment
Nov. 20, 11:29 a.m.
The Senate Ethics Committee publicly admonished Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) on Friday for discrediting himself and the Senate in the way he sought appointment to the seat of now-President Barack Obama.
CRS Report Shows Most Bills Subject to Cloture Pass
Nov. 19, 10:25 p.m.
A new study of Senate voting patterns shows the chamber has approved more than 97 percent of all bills subject to a cloture motion to begin debate a finding that could undercut Democratic efforts to paint a key health care vote on Saturday as procedural.
Doug Hampton: Money From Ensigns Was Severance
Nov. 19, 9:32 p.m.
Doug Hampton, the former top aide to Sen. John Ensign whose wife had an affair with the Nevada Republican, is alleging the nearly $100,000 that the lawmakers parents paid him from their personal accounts after he discovered the affair was severance and not a gift as Ensign has claimed.
DeFazio Woos Colleagues to Support Obama Economic Team Ouster
Nov. 19, 6:48 p.m.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, one of the most outspoken Democratic critics of the White House economic team, said he plans to press the 27-member Congressional Populist Caucus to back his call for their ouster.
Reid Tees Up Vote; GOP Drops Bill-Reading Plan
Nov. 19, 4:54 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday afternoon set the procedural wheels in motion for a crucial vote on a major health care reform bill Saturday night at 8 p.m. and scored a coup by apparently persuading Republicans to abandon their plans to have the entire 2,074-page bill read aloud on the Senate floor.
Nelson Joins Lieberman in Threatening to Filibuster Health Bill
Nov. 19, 4:34 p.m.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) officially joined Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) as the second member of the Democratic Conference to threaten a filibuster of the Senates health care reform bill.
CBO: House Bill Cuts Deficit More Than Senate Version
Nov. 19, 4:29 p.m.
Score one for the House, perhaps. The Congressional Budget Office revised its estimate of the House health care bill Thursday, saying it would shrink the deficit by $139 billion in the first decade, $30 billion more than earlier estimates and $9 billion more than the Senate bill unveiled Wednesday by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
Durbin: Place Your Bets on 8 p.m. Health Care Vote
Nov. 19, 4:23 p.m.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Thursday that Senators should expect to take their first vote on a major health care reform effort Saturday night around 8.
Democratic Caucus Rolls Out Revamped Web Site
Nov. 19, 4:01 p.m.
The House Democratic Caucus unveiled a revamped Web site Thursday with a new focus on showcasing individual Members and legislation.
Senate Confirms Hamilton to 7th Circuit Court
Nov. 19, 3:45 p.m.
Senate Democrats on Thursday voted 59-39 to install David Hamilton to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Nelson: Abortion Can Be Dealt With on the Floor
Nov. 19, 1:56 p.m.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) hinted again Thursday that he's leaning toward voting to allow Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to bring his health care bill to the floor, rejecting an argument from fellow Nebraska senator Mike Johanns (R) that such a vote was a vote for abortion rights.
Reid Confident but Wont Yet Predict 60 Votes
Nov. 19, 1:50 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) confidently predicted Thursday that the Senate would eventually pass a health care reform measure, even as he refused to say whether he has the 60 votes necessary to bring the measure up for debate.
Pelosi Prefers Senate Abortion Language
Nov. 19, 1:18 p.m.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rarely misses a chance to defend her chambers prerogative, but on one sticking point in the health care debate abortion she is casting her lot with the Senate.
Abortion Spotlight Shines on Ben Nelson
Nov. 19, 12:19 p.m.
Abortion language included into the Senate health care bill by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) quickly came under attack from abortion-rights foes, who are trying to ratchet up the pressure on moderate Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) to block consideration of the bill.
Kerrys Daughter Arrested for DUI
Nov. 19, 12:06 p.m.
Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerrys (D-Mass.) daughter was arrested Thursday morning in Los Angeles for driving under the influence.
GOP Leaders Say Most Not All Will Oppose Doc Fix
Nov. 19, 12:02 p.m.
House Republican leaders emerged from a closed-door conference meeting on Thursday confident that most of their members would vote against the $210 billion doc fix bill but stopped short of declaring there would be unanimous GOP opposition.
Lugars Wife Arrested for DUI
Nov. 19, 11:03 a.m.
Charlene Lugar, wife of Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Dick Lugar (R-Ind.), was arrested Wednesday night for drunken driving after a traffic accident in McLean, Va.
Official CBO Score Released: Senate Health Bill $848 Billion
Nov. 19, 7:35 a.m.
The Congressional Budget Office confirmed late Wednesday night that the Senate health care reform bill would cost about $848 billion over ten years, but upped the amount of deficit savings Democratic aides had predicted from $127 billion to $130 billion over ten years.
Republicans Wont Back Off Criticism of DHS
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
Seven months ago, House Republicans decried as offensive a Homeland Security Department report that listed returning war veterans as possible recruits for right-wing extremists.
Durbin, Dorgan Writing Senate Jobs Bill
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (N.D.) have been quietly trying to write a jobs bill that the Senate can act on early next year, underscoring the renewed emphasis Congressional Democrats are putting on the economy as 2009 comes to a close.
Gitmo Still Vexing Democrats
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
House Republicans continued Wednesday to hammer Democrats over the issue of bringing suspected terrorists from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, onto U.S. soil for trial and they appear to be making headway.
Jefferson to Stay Out of Prison Pending Appeal
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
Ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) received a temporary reprieve Wednesday when a federal judge ruled the former lawmaker will not have to begin his 13-year prison term while he appeals his conviction.
D.C. Officials Renew Push for Greater Autonomy
Nov. 19, 12 a.m.
D.C. officials are renewing their push for greater autonomy, pressing Members to pass two bills that would eliminate a Congressional review process they say disrupts the citys operations and wastes local dollars.
Republicans Complain About Preliminary Cost of Senate Health Care Bill
Nov. 18, 9:06 p.m.
Senate Republicans roundly criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) health care reform bill as a backroom deal that will raise insurance premiums and increase taxes on Americans, even as they complained they have yet to read the 2,074-page bill.
Obama Names McCue, Perino to Broadcast Board
Nov. 18, 8:32 p.m.
The White House announced Wednesday that President Barack Obama was nominating Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) former chief of staff, Susan McCue, and former Bush White House Press Secretary Dana Perino to the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Senate Reform Race Begins
Nov. 18, 7:58 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) finally ended weeks of mystery about his health care reform bill on Wednesday night, setting the stage for a historic debate that could begin this week if he can get an initial OK from all 60 members of the Democratic Conference.
Owens, Garamendi About to Get Committee Assignments
Nov. 18, 6:25 p.m.
The two newest House Democrats Reps. John Garamendi (Calif.) and Bill Owens (N.Y.) are about to get their committee assignments.
House GOP to Meet Thursday, Fearing Split Over Doc Fix
Nov. 18, 6:02 p.m.
The House Republican Conference will hold a special meeting Thursday morning to discuss the doc fix bill, which has the potential to divide some the most conservative members from their leadership.
Byrd Celebrates Becoming Longest-Serving Member
Nov. 18, 5:34 p.m.
An ebullient Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) took to the floor Wednesday afternoon to celebrate his 20,774th day of service in Congress, the longest of any lawmaker in history.
Senate Health Bill Comes In at $849 Billion
Nov. 18, 4:58 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) health care reform proposal will cost $849 billion over 10 years but cut the deficit by about $127 billion, leadership aides announced Wednesday afternoon.
Democrats Demand Insurers Explain Rate Hikes
Nov. 18, 4:11 p.m.
A bicameral group of Democratic lawmakers led by Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) is asking the insurance industry to explain a report that its companies are steeply hiking rates ahead of a health care reform overhaul aimed in part at reining in industry profits.
Nelson: A Vote to Begin Debate Not an Endorsement on Health Bill
Nov. 18, 4:09 p.m.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) on Wednesday took aim at critics who have attempted to sway his vote on whether to support Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) effort to begin debate on a health care reform measure this week.
Senate Prepares to Work Through Next Wednesday
Nov. 18, 2:07 p.m.
Senators may keep slogging through debate on their health care overhaul until the day before Thanksgiving, according to an adjournment resolution the House approved Wednesday.
Biden, Salazar and Daschle Tapped to Lobby Senators on Health Reform
Nov. 18, 12:58 p.m.
President Barack Obama has dispatched a trio of heavy-hitting former Senators to the Senate to shore up votes for a health care reform bill that could come up later this week.
Blue Dogs Challenge Pelosi With Support of Deficit-Cutting Commission
Nov. 18, 11:59 a.m.
In a direct challenge to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition voted Tuesday night to endorse a powerful bipartisan commission with fast-track authority to bring legislation to the House and Senate floor that would slash the federal deficit.
Byrd Honored as Longest-Serving Lawmaker
Nov. 18, 10:53 a.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took to the Senate floor Wednesday morning to laud President Pro Tem Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) for becoming the longest-serving Member of Congress.
Reform Allies Ready Ads Backing Vulnerables
Nov. 18, 12 a.m.
Outside groups pushing health care reform are readying a multimillion-dollar ad blitz to defend about a dozen vulnerable House Democrats who helped pass a sweeping overhaul from attack ads launched by the measures opponents.
Schumer Advocates for Many on Panel
Nov. 16, 12 a.m.
As Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson once said of the Joint Economic Committee, Its as useless as tits on a bull. But as that panels chairman during the 110th Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized the opportunity to elevate the traditionally low-profile post to the forefront of shaping policy. Read Full Article










