Christmas

Nothing seems to push lawmakers to get their jobs done and pass legislation more than the threat of having to be in Washington over the holidays. 

Knowing this, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan made it clear Thursday that Congress staying in session over Christmas is an option if they have not advanced a tax overhaul bill by then. 

While their Capitol Hill offices remain decorated with holiday spirit, lawmakers are home celebrating with their families and loved ones.  

Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, said in the four decades he has been in Congress, he has never spent a Christmas in the Washington area, always in Iowa. “For the most part, during those 40 years, it has been at our farm house,” the senator told Roll Call. “I guess when I had in-laws alive more than 25 years ago, we used to go there for Christmas but we always had a Grassley Christmas.” Grassley and his wife, Barbara, run the family’s grain and livestock operation, where he grows corn and soybeans on 720 acres.  

Veterans of the Iowa caucuses say having the contest a month later than the past few will allow them to enjoy their Christmas season and that the date change could affect candidates' trajectories.  

The past three Iowa caucuses were held in January, with the 2008 and 2012 caucuses held two days after New Year's Day. But they're scheduled for February 1 this year.  

The White House is spreading holiday cheer by sharing the first and second couples' Spotify playlists .  

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have shared "Holidays with the Obamas,” which starts off with "O Tannenbaum" from the animated classic, "A Charlie Brown Christmas." They also included “Let It Snow” from Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” as well as a smattering of yule classics from the Jackson 5, Destiny’s Child, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra, among others. The hourlong playlist has 14 songs.  

Lawmakers returned from the Thanksgiving holiday ready for brawls, “iron-asses” and Christmas wishes.