Minority Whip

Observances of Rosh Hashanah and fear of inclement weather made for another short week on Capitol Hill, but House members still found time to appear on the Late Show, complain about press events in the Rayburn Room and, in the case of Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, entertain rap-based marketing suggestions to the tune of Silentó’s “Watch Me.”

When getting legislation passed — from continuing resolutions on government spending to health care overhaul bills — congressional leaders keep track of who may vote each way by their helpful sidekicks known as the whips. Ever heard the phrase, “whipping votes?” Roll Call senior editor David Hawkings explains the official and de facto job of this indispensable role on Capitol Hill.

Sitting down with Roll Call editor-in-chief Melinda Henneberger, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer expressed disappointment by the lack of women in the Maryland delegation, saying that Kathleen Matthews losing Maryland’s 8th district seat to state Sen. Jamie Raskin was “a real loss.”