Stevens Wants Another Trial

December 2, 2008

Attorneys for Sen. Ted Stevens (R) indicated Tuesday they will seek a do-over of the Alaskan’s criminal case, asserting that numerous “legal issues” invalidated the October trial that ended in a guilty verdict.

Reid Prompts Early Fight Over Committees

December 2, 2008

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is having a tough time selling a plan to parcel out subcommittee chairmanships to incoming freshmen while taking them away from the more established rank and file.

Martinez Successors Begin to Line Up

December 2, 2008

Following Sen. Mel Martinez’s (R-Fla.) surprise announcement he will not seek a second term in 2010, a long line of potential would-be successors had already begun to form by Tuesday afternoon.

Gregoire Offers Recount Advice to Franken

December 2, 2008

Al Franken certainly isn’t the first candidate to endure a long recount. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) knows all about close races and recounts, and she recently offered her advice to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee in the protracted Minnesota Senate race.

CVC May Be Great for Visitors, but Not for Capitol Police

December 2, 2008

The Capitol Visitor Center is not only a stately entrance for visitors — it is also designed to be a state-of-the-art facility that enhances the security of the Capitol.

NAM Axes Staff

December 2, 2008

The National Association of Manufacturers cut 17 staff positions Tuesday, following a review of the trade group’s 2009 budget.

A Call for Comments on Disclosure Forms

December 2, 2008

The Senate and House disclosure offices are asking lobbyists to lodge their gripes regarding new disclosure forms by early next week, so any changes may be made by the Jan. 20 filing deadline.

Hoyer Says No Deal, No Votes

December 2, 2008

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on Tuesday that the House will not come back into session next week unless a deal is reached in the coming days to aid the sinking auto industry.

CVC Opens in Invitation-Only Ceremony

December 2, 2008

House and Senate leaders ceremoniously opened the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday with speeches that evoked the beginnings of Congress and the creation of the Capitol.

Cornyn Gets 2010 Wake-Up Call

December 2, 2008

Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) on Tuesday got a taste of life as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman, when he found out about Sen. Mel Martinez’s (R-Fla.) decision not to seek re-election in 2010 the same way most everyone else did — via the media.

Light Turnout in Georgia Runoff Has Both Camps on Edge

December 2, 2008

Coming off a visit Monday in which Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) sought to fire up the party base for Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R), Peach State Republicans say they are cautiously optimistic about their prospects of holding the state’s “firewall” Senate seat in today’s runoff.

Prosecutors Want Fossella to Serve Five Days in Jail

December 1, 2008

Prosecutors have formally asked a district judge to sentence Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) to 180 days in jail for drunken driving, with all but five days suspended.

Bean to Host Fundraiser for New Colleague Halvorson

December 1, 2008

Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) will host a fundraiser for Rep.-elect Debbie Halvorson (Ill.) to help retire the fellow Chicagoland Democrat’s campaign debt.

Obama and Clinton Together Again

December 1, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama named Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as his secretary of State on Monday.

CVC (Finally) Ready to Open Its Doors

December 1, 2008

The idea of an underground extension to the Capitol took seed 30 years ago, gained traction in the 1990s and finally got off the ground in 2002.

Jury Is Still Out on Obama Judges

December 1, 2008

Senate Republicans and conservative activists are warily watching President-elect Barack Obama’s early executive branch nominations, aiming to glean a sense of how the new president will approach the minefield of judicial nominations after he takes office in January, activists and aides said.

A Senate Rises Sans Stars

December 1, 2008

“ER” survived 10 seasons after George Clooney left the show and took his star power to the big screen. Just as the hospital drama pivoted to an ensemble cast, so too will the Senate, which appears poised to continue on without a breakout star as two of its biggest celebrities move on to bigger things.

Bill Thomas Looks Back Serenely at House Career

December 1, 2008

Former Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) chaired two committees and steered dozens of pieces of legislation during his 28-year career. He openly relished his Ways and Means chairmanship — “the only job that I really, really wanted” — and he was a divisive figure whose skirmishes with Democratic colleagues were legendary.

Heard on the Hill: That’s Mr. Obama to You

December 1, 2008

Everyone knows that Barack Obama is the president-elect. Just look at any newspaper (including Roll Call) or flip on the TV to hear the soon-to-be-prez referred to that way.

Members Offered Many Bills but Passed Few

December 1, 2008

Members of the 110th Congress introduced nearly 14,000 pieces of legislation, more than any Congress since 1980, but only about 3.3 percent of the bills actually were signed into law, the lowest success rate since 1976.

Change to Health Plan May Surprise Hill Staffers

December 1, 2008

Some Capitol Hill staffers and other government workers may have to pay more for surgeries and emergency room visits next year thanks to a few significant changes to a popular federal health insurance plan.

Member Losses Wreak Havoc on Staff

December 1, 2008

When Rekha Chandrasekaran took a job with Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) earlier this year, she knew that her new boss was running for the Senate against a popular incumbent. But Chandrasekaran took the gamble and was confident that she would be moving to the upper chamber with Allen after Election Day.

Business Groups, Team Obama Play Well

December 1, 2008

As President-elect Barack Obama puts together his administration’s economic team, business groups and private-sector lobbyists are vying to be heard.

Morning Business: Request for Review

December 1, 2008

Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) filed a petition Wednesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit requesting the full court revisit his case, after a three-judge panel refused to dismiss charges against him in November.

Subscribe to Roll Call

Already registered? Login at the top of the page.

Roll Call is the first and only call for the people, politics and personality of Capitol Hill. Sign up today to get Roll Call delivered to your inbox and/or doorstep.



Already a print subscriber? Click here for instant online access.

Work on Capitol Hill? Click here for free access.

Questions? Call 202/824-6800

Highlights

Guide to the Capitol Visitor Center

As the long-awaited CVC opens, Roll Call takes a look at what's inside and what was behind its construction.

Roll Call Video

Video

Guide to the Capitol Visitors Center

Video

The Mission Ahead: Tom DeLay

Video

The Mission Ahead: Norm Mineta

Video

The Mission Ahead: Jon Corzine