Category Archives: legislation and legislatures

“The House Prefers Chaos to Order’

May 4, 2013, 6:13 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT Editorial: “Regular order!” That has been the demand of House Republicans for three years, insisting on a return to the distant days when Congress actually passed budget resolutions and spending bills, instead of paying for the government through… Continue reading

“More political intelligence is under scrutiny in connection with Medicare funding decision”

May 4, 2013, 5:22 pmlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“As Senators Head for Exit, Few Step Up to Run for Seats”

May 4, 2013, 5:19 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“House of Un-Representatives”

May 3, 2013, 7:33 amlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Timothy Egan Opinionator column.

“Jeff Merkley Escalates Push For Filibuster Reform”

May 2, 2013, 8:35 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

TPM reports.

“Just How Many Newt Gingrich’s Are There on K Street? Estimating the True Size and Shape of Washington’s Revolving Door”

April 26, 2013, 9:12 amlegislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Timothy LaPira and Herschel F. Thomas III have posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s choice not to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) for his “historical advice” to Freddie Mac was a… Continue reading

Is the Senate Getting Better?

April 25, 2013, 8:23 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Jonathan Bernstein and Sarah Binder.

“The Shadow Lobbyist”

April 25, 2013, 6:24 pmlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Tom Edsall: There has been a quiet upheaval in the lobbying industry. On the surface, the firms that represent thousands of businesses, trade associations and special interests are taking a beating. In practice, however, the lobbying industry is moving below… Continue reading

“Constitutional Interpretation and Congressional Overrides: Changing Trends in Court-Congress Relations”

April 25, 2013, 8:48 amlegislation and legislatures, statutory interpretation, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ryan Emenaker has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: National policy is shaped through frequent interaction between the Court and Congress. The Court devotes the largest portion of its work to applying and interpreting congressional statutes. Congress… Continue reading

House Republicans Reject “Helping Sick Americans Now”

April 24, 2013, 9:09 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

A self-inflicted wound.

“The Filibuster and Reconciliation: The Future of Majoritarian Lawmaking in the U.S. Senate”

April 24, 2013, 6:20 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Tonja Jacobi and Jeff Van Dam have posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The filibuster has effectively become a supermajority requirement for all lawmaking in the Senate, an effect worsened by ill-conceived attempts at its reform. Once… Continue reading

“On Filibuster, It’s Past Time to End ‘False Equivalence’”

April 23, 2013, 5:46 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Andrew Cohen blogs.

“How the ban on earmarks killed the gun bill”

April 19, 2013, 7:54 amlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

The Fix: Washington used to be a place where lawmakers openly traded votes for both concrete and symbolic concessions from the executive branch, whether it was a project in a member’s district or simply the president’s presence at a… Continue reading