U.S. Congress

Senate Republicans Turning to Filibuster to Block Democratic Agenda

by Conor Kenny — February 12, 2007 - 5:55pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

House Democrats have had little trouble passing their legislative agenda so far in the 110th Congress.

House Extends Federal Budget, Senate Set to Act Next Week

by Conor Kenny — February 9, 2007 - 5:36pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

On January 31, the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal budget for the rest of the current (2007) fiscal year (which lasts through Sept. 30) at the same levels as fiscal year 2006. The federal budget is generally funded through eleven separate appropriations bills, but the Republican-led 109th Congress was unable to pass nine of those, making it necessary for Congress to pass a resolution "continuing" last year's budget.

Lobbyist Business Booms as Oversight Hearings Start

by Diane Farsetta — February 7, 2007 - 10:05am

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding hearings on "waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars"; topics include Iraq reconstruction, Homeland Security contracting, and prescription drug pricing. Companies called to testify are "scrambling to hire lobbyists with Democratic ties," reports Bloomberg.

Main Source:

Bloomberg, January 31, 2007

Senate Republicans Block Debate on Iraq Troop "Surge"

by Conor Kenny — February 6, 2007 - 5:55pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

After much anticipation, Senate Republicans blocked debate early Monday evening on a bill opposing President Bush’s plan to escalate U.S. troop levels in Iraq. Sixty votes were required to bring it to the floor, and ultimately the motion to invoke cloture fell eleven short, 49-47.

Yes, Virginia, Congresspedia Does Have The Daily Schedules of Two Members of Congress

by Conor Kenny — February 5, 2007 - 3:18pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, Secrecy

On Sunday the Washington Post ran a story about how two freshman members of Congress are posting their schedules online and that archives of their schedules can be found on

Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, Dec. 17-Jan. 12

by Conor Kenny — February 1, 2007 - 5:55pm

Topics: Congresspedia News Updates, U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the new chair of the DCCC, said in a memo that thirty-five Republican held seats are "in play" for the 2008 congressional elections. (TPM Cafe story)
Former Republican Sen.

Two House Dems to Face-off in Philly Mayoral Primary

by Conor Kenny — February 1, 2007 - 5:40pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

While there are no House seats up for election until next year, two Democratic reps. from Pennsylvania, Robert Brady and Chaka Fattah, have opted to face voters much sooner. Both are running for the open Philadelphia mayor's seat, a position currently held by the term-limited John Street.

The Senate’s Lobbying and Ethics Changes

by Conor Kenny — January 31, 2007 - 4:59pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, Lobbying

Guest poster: Paul Blumenthal of the Sunlight Foundation:

Two weeks ago the Senate passed a series of sweeping changes in ethics and lobbying laws and in the Senate Rules. I've started a Congresspedia page on the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007 that contains a handy run down of the changes passed by the Senate.

Politics still going strong on YouTube

by Conor Kenny — January 30, 2007 - 4:16pm

Topics: U.S. Congress

One of the more interesting intersections between the Internet and politics has been the ascendancy of political videos on YouTube. The phenomenon exploded this fall when the video of former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) calling a staffer for now-Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) "macaca" likely cost him the election. But the flurry of political clips didn't subside with the election – this week three of the 20 most-viewed videos and three of the 20 top-rated videos feature members of Congress or parodies of them.

Shooting up the charts, for example, is this video of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) positively railing against Republican members of the Senate last week. They were holding up the minimum wage increase bill in hopes of extracting concessions for impacted businesses. Kennedy exploded with anger, asking, "Do you have such disdain for hardworking Americans that you want to pile all your amendments on this? ... What is it about working men and women that you find so offensive that you won't permit even a vote... we don't want to hear any more from [Republicans] for the rest of this session about permitting and not permitting votes in here when you're denying a vote on the most simple concept, an increase in the minimum wage. We don't want to hear any more about that. This is filibuster by delay and amendments. I've been around here long enough to know it when I see it and when I smell it."

To get an idea of what Kennedy was so incensed about, check out Congresspedia's page on the minimum wage increase bill, which includes details on the amendments. (The bill, incidentally, just passed a cloture vote and is headed to a final vote on Thursday or Friday.)

House Expands Voting Privileges for Delegates and Resident Commissioner; Further Action on DC Voting Rights Expected

by Conor Kenny — January 29, 2007 - 5:50pm

Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

Last Wednesday, the House approved a rule change granting the four House delegates and the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico partial voting rights on the House floor. A similar rule was implemented in 1993 by a Democratic majority, but repealed in 1995 after Republicans took control of Congress. The resolution passed largely along party lines, 226-191.

The rule will allow delegates and the resident commissioner to participate in the “Committee of the Whole,” whereby members may debate and vote on amendments to a bill before the final version is considered.