Category Archives: legislation and legislatures
“Wrinkle in Health Law Vexes Lawmakers’ Aides”
NYT: “As President Obama barnstorms the country promoting his health care law, one audience very close to home is growing increasingly anxious about the financial implications of the new coverage: members of Congress and their personal staffs.”
“Congress spends too much time fundraising. But it’s less time than you think”
“Lawmakers, Lobbyists Push for New Tax Breaks Through Secret Process”
National Journal:
The Senate’s top tax writers’ “blank slate” approach to tax reform was supposed to give Congress the chance to throw out all tax breaks and start fresh. Instead, lawmakers and lobbyists are using their confidential and off-the-record… Continue reading
The Chances of a Deal to Fix the VRA After Shelby County? Observations about the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
I had a chance to watch a good part of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today. It makes me more pessimistic about the chances of a deal to improve the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court effectively gutted section… Continue reading
“The Senate that Senators Want”
Monkey Cage guest post from Eric Schickler and Greg Wawro:
Events in the Senate over the past few weeks offer two clear lessons. First, a simple majority in the Senate has the power – and indeed has long had the… Continue reading
“The Senate didn’t go nuclear. But, actually, it kind of did.”
Ezra Klein: “This will be the new normal. It will be the new normal under Democrats and then it will be the new normal under Republicans. The Senate stopped short of actually ending the filibuster against executive-branch nominations today. But… Continue reading
“Reid announces tentative deal to avert rules showdown”
The latest from WaPo.
“Senate’s Leader Sets Showdown Over Changes to Filibuster”
NYT:
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada took a defiant and uncompromising stand on Monday before a showdown on the future of the filibuster, saying that Republicans must stop blocking executive branch nominations or he will try to change rules… Continue reading
“Renewing voting rights — with Roberts in mind”
Ari Melber has written this piece for Reuters Opinion.
“Democrats: It’s the States, Stupid!”
Herman Schwartz:
Unless the Democrats wake up to the importance of winning state legislative elections, they are likely to remain a largely impotent minority in the House of Representatives and equally feeble in the state legislatures. The momentous Supreme… Continue reading
“Speak Softly….and Carry a Nuclear Stick”
Sarah Binder on the filibuster fight.