Niels Lesniewski
Bio:
Niels Lesniewski covers the Senate for Roll Call. He joined what is now CQ Roll Call in September 2007, hired by Roll Call for the GalleryWatch legislative tracking service that was integrated into CQ in 2009. He is known for his expertise on the peculiarities of Senate procedure.
Niels began covering the Senate for CQ in January 2010, taking the title of CQ SenateWatch editor in the summer of 2011. He has contributed to coverage of all the biggest policy stories on Capitol Hill in recent years, including the response to the 2008 financial collapse, the health care overhaul and several budget standoffs.
A Connecticut native, Niels graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a dual degree in theatre and government. Before joining CQ Roll Call, he worked for theater productions in D.C. and New England. While in college, he interned for ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." Outside of work, Niels is an avid sports fan. He started attending Nationals games back when the team was among the worst in the National League and still playing at RFK Stadium.
Stories by Niels Lesniewski:
Aug. 1, 2013
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., succeeded in mustering the votes to kill a spending bill Thursday, drawing sharp rebukes from Democrats.
Aug. 1, 2013
Updated: 10:41 p.m. | Just a day after President Barack Obama told Senate Democrats he had personally engaged in the issue of his signature health care law’s effect on lawmakers and their staff, it appears there’s a solution.
Aug. 1, 2013
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell quietly weighed in on one of his long-standing priorities Thursday — the country of Myanmar.
Aug. 1, 2013
At least it wasn’t one of their colleagues on a spit.
July 31, 2013
When not meeting with President Barack Obama or waiting for one of the longest Senate votes ever to conclude, the Senate’s two top Democratic leaders found time Wednesday for a few issues that won’t make such big headlines.
July 31, 2013
Wednesday’s prolonged roll call vote to limit debate on B. Todd Jones to become the permanent ATF director fell about 15 minutes short of the longest example in recent years.
July 31, 2013
During a wide-ranging, closed-door meeting with Senate Democrats that focused on economic issues, President Barack Obama expressed openness to changing the way the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court operates.
July 31, 2013
Updated 4:25 p.m. | The Senate will have one more fiscal standoff before leaving for the August recess in what will be an early test of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s ability to hold the line on spending this fall.
July 30, 2013
Updated 6:43 p.m. | Sen. Ted Cruz downplayed the damage of a government shutdown he and 11 other Senate Republicans are threatening over Obamacare as the equivalent of an extended weekend.
July 30, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may not have replied to the letter seeking input on a tax code overhaul from the Finance Committee leaders, but one of his most trusted lieutenants certainly did.
July 29, 2013
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — Give them credit for this much: The top congressional tax writers are doing their level best to push for an overhaul of the nation’s outdated tax code.
July 26, 2013
Updated 4:59 p.m. | Today could bring a news dump full of wonky tax code overhaul suggestions — or not.
July 25, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he’s going to have to get back to meeting regularly with his Republican counterpart from Kentucky.
July 25, 2013
Updated 4:50 p.m. | The bipartisan effort to overhaul the nation’s tax code isn’t getting the warmest response from the Senate Democratic leadership.
July 24, 2013
Sen. Chris Coons is following in the footsteps of two predecessors, including the current vice president, taking up the cause of Amtrak.
July 24, 2013
There may be no legislative brinksmanship threatening to delay the arrival of August recess this year, but Senate Democratic leaders are looking to use the run-up to the month-long break as a de facto deadline to clear a bevy of nominations.
July 23, 2013
Visions of the Republican Party literally crossed paths in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday evening.
July 23, 2013
National tea party leaders are not backing down from their endorsement of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, despite pushback from local tea party factions in Kentucky.
July 23, 2013
If the sequester continues, the United States might not be able to take action in Syria and Iran.
July 23, 2013
As the student loan endgame neared, Democrats grumbled about the budget rules that make the bipartisan package work.
July 23, 2013
It’s an understatement to say President Barack Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell aren’t exactly kindred spirits, but on Tuesday the two men were in sync on a compromise student loan proposal opposed by key Senate Democrats.
July 22, 2013
Another Senate Republican has conceded he doesn’t entirely trust House Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis.
July 22, 2013
The search continues to find more spare change in the government’s couch cushions.
July 19, 2013
Senate Democrats and the White House are striking an aggressive tone on some bread-and-butter issues after successfully playing “nuclear” hardball to confirm President Barack Obama’s executive appointees.
July 19, 2013
Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin on Friday announced he would hold a hearing on “Stand Your Ground” laws like the one that’s generated so much controversy in Florida following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
