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:
April 16, 2013
The “gang of eight” senators rolling out a bipartisan immigration overhaul this week are gearing up for the battle to formally be joined at the Senate Judiciary Committee and ultimately on the floor this summer.
April 15, 2013
Capitol officials are making some changes designed to alleviate the lines at Senate-side entrances for staffers and the general public.
April 15, 2013
As the tragic scene continued to unfold near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, officials in Washington, D.C., enhanced visible security and lawmakers sent prayers to those affected by the explosions.
April 12, 2013
A reverse mortgage lender may employ a former GOP senator as corporate pitchman, but there’s no love lost on Capitol Hill.
April 11, 2013
When the Senate took what was generally viewed as necessary action to scale back an overly broad provision of a federal transparency law Thursday, it did so without much transparency of its own.
April 11, 2013
Updated 4:20 p.m. | An outside watchdog group filed ethics complaints against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggesting possible misuse of official staff for campaign purposes.
April 10, 2013
Nothing brings Democratic and Republican senators together like some time alone on a yacht, says Sen. Mark S. Kirk.
April 10, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s schedule went temporarily afoul of a rather unattractive fowl.
April 9, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he expects a full slate of nominees for the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals to reach the chamber in the coming weeks.
April 8, 2013
Senate Democrats appear to be setting the stage for a major battle over President Barack Obama’s judicial nominations, a fight that threatens to reignite raw partisan emotions over filibuster rules and the “nuclear option.”
April 7, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has the tools he needs to overcome any initial filibuster of a firearms background check bill, but he may not be inclined to use them.
April 5, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that unless nominations start moving swiftly through the Senate, another round of dramatic rules changes may be in the offing.
April 5, 2013
In near-simultaneous statements, two newly elected Democratic senators from traditionally red states announced support for allowing gay marriages, leaving just four Senate Democrats remaining.
April 5, 2013
When many Kentucky voters head to the polls for next year’s Senate primary and general elections, they’ll for the first time be able to make their next stop a local watering hole or liquor store.
April 3, 2013
Two New Jersey Democrats are citing the controversy surrounding the former men’s basketball coach at their state’s flagship university to highlight the need to pass anti-bullying legislation.
March 28, 2013
The much ballyhooed STOCK Act’s financial disclosure requirements for senior federal officials could endanger national security and individuals’ safety, a congressionally mandated report found.
March 28, 2013
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., warned Bluegrass State reporters Wednesday not to expect an announcement about a possible 2016 presidential bid until next year, while also opining about other policy priorities.
March 27, 2013
The Supreme Court’s focus this week on gay marriage has put Democratic senators seeking re-election in 2014 under a microscope, with no shortage of media outlets asking their offices about evolving views on the issue.
March 26, 2013
The top Senate Republican is calling on the House to send over legislation to repeal the health care law’s tax on medical devices, following a bipartisan vote among senators in favor of such a move last week.
March 26, 2013
Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee may be out of luck in their quest to prevent the Senate from taking up gun control legislation.
March 25, 2013
Sen. John McCain may have apologized for calling relative Senate newcomers Rand Paul and Ted Cruz “wacko birds,” but the Arizona Republican hasn’t given up fighting their isolationist position on U.S. foreign policy.
March 22, 2013
As senators tackled their first budget vote-a-rama since 2009, opinions were decidedly mixed as to whether the budget law dictating abbreviated debate followed by unlimited amendment votes should be revamped.
March 22, 2013
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., doesn’t believe the gun violence legislation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring to the floor early next month has a chance to become law without significant changes.
March 21, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Thursday that the base gun legislation on the Senate floor next month would include background checks and gun-trafficking language as well as school safety provisions.
March 21, 2013
By the time the Senate’s budget vote-a-rama ends Friday night or Saturday, senators’ heads will be spinning from the dozens of votes they’ve taken in rapid succession.
