Where Members of Congress Live These Days
A group of West Virginians had something to say to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) about the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, so they took their message directly to the Senator’s Washington, DC residence – by kayaking up to his houseboat on the Potomac River. When legislators are conducting their business in our nation’s capital, just like anyone else, […]
The Senate Parliamentarian, Explained
On September 19, Democrats’ plans to offer undocumented immigrants a legal pathway to permanent residency was torpedoed when the Senate Parliamentarian ruled against including immigration reform in their $3.5 trillion human infrastructure package. As Democrats attempt to advance key priorities via budget reconciliation, the role of the Senate Parliamentarian has garnered much attention. Background: Democrats have […]
Previewing Congress’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad September
Lawmakers are facing a September like no other. With only a dozen or days scheduled to be in person in DC, Members of Congress must address a $3.5 trillion “human infrastructure” package, a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, last month’s expiration of the debt ceiling, and appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. Each of these major bills carries several steps of their own, including […]
What’s the Point of Congressional Caucuses?
The Congressional Bourbon Caucus. The Congressional Peanut Caucus. The Congressional Rodeo Caucus. It seems like there’s a congressional caucus for every type of issue or policy. What exactly are congressional caucuses, and do they have any impact on the policymaking process? All About Congressional Caucuses Officially known as congressional member organizations, congressional caucuses are voluntary associations […]
What Is the Debt Ceiling, and Why Does It Matter?
On July 31, the federal government is scheduled to hit the debt ceiling, meaning it will no longer be able to borrow money. Fights over the debt ceiling have been become increasingly common in recent years, and once again, lawmakers find themselves squabbling over what to do so the federal government is able to pay […]
The “Committees of Jurisdiction” That Shape Health Care Policy in Congress
Congressional committees help Congress with the important work of reviewing, debating, and passing legislation. As Congress considers legislative action on drug pricing, paid leave, and other key health care policies, it’s important to understand a committee’s “jurisdiction,” or its area of responsibility. The jurisdiction of each Senate committee is specified in Senate Rule XXV, while each […]
Will August Recess Be Canceled This Year?
Summer has arrived, and once again, some members of Congress are calling for August recess to be scrapped. Does this mean lawmakers will be working through the summer on infrastructure and other high-priority legislative items, or are calls to keep members of Congress in Washington throughout August nothing but noise? The History of August Recess The […]
What You Need to Know about Medicare Insolvency
Medicare is in trouble. The Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund, which finances Medicare Part A, already spends more than it brings in, and without help from Congress, the trust fund is projected to become insolvent in just a few years. Unfortunately, the HI trust fund has been down this road before, requiring Congress to take action to […]
Should Hill Staffers Be Paid More?
On June 29, House appropriators signed off on a report to look into whether Members of Congress deserve a pay raise. Does that mean their staff should get a pay raise, too? In Washington, DC, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,630. That’s a tough pill to swallow if you’re a young congressional staffer barely making over […]
Can Democrats Scrap the Filibuster?
The filibuster is a time-honored tradition in the Senate that allows any Senator to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill. Currently, 60 votes are needed in the Senate to end debate and pass most pieces of legislation, a threshold that requires Democrats to have the support of at least 10 Republicans to […]