Good afternoon, Daily Kos readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, offer critiques and suggestions, or post manifestos.
This is an open source project, so feel free to add your own insights. Here's the news I found lurking around the Internets...
You may remember Sen. John Ensign R-NV, Promise Keeper. He has been a little invisible lately.
According to multiple sources familiar with the grand jury subpoenas, investigators do not believe any of the Nevada companies did anything illegal. Their interest is focused on Ensign, Hampton, and others who may have assisted in trying to steer income Hampton's way.
The Washington grand jury wants all of the subpoenaed records by the end of this month, indicating the investigation is moving rapidly.
A parallel investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee has also generated subpoenas to Nevadans. Most of those subpoenaed by the grand jury were also subpoenaed by the Ethics Committee, but a few served by the Senate were not served by the DOJ.
The fact that the investigators came to Las Vegas, not just to interview people but to serve subpoenas, is a clue that they are pretty serious about this matter.
Too bad the veterinarian was not serious about his promise to people.
The NRSC was asked to turn over documents related to Ensign’s tenure as NRSC chairman. Ensign chaired the committee during the 2007-08 cycle. NRSC officials declined to comment on the subpoena other than to confirm its existence.
This is left to Sen. John Cornyn R-TX to handle.
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In other Appalachian Trail Leads to C Street News
The Republican governor is accused of breaking 37 laws, including improperly using pricey plane tickets for a trip to Argentina where he saw the mistress he infamously called his soul mate. Under a consent agreement signed Thursday, Sanford doesn't admit guilt but does not contest the charges either.
Ah, the those sacramental heterosexual marriages must have been threaten by access to a time machine by the recently married couples in the District of Columbia.
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Sen. Kent Conrad D-ND as the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee would have been the one charged with putting together the reconciliation bill if it had started in the Senate. Since it is begin written by the House, that duty is split between the House Committee on the Budget chaired by Rep. John Spratt D-SC-05 and the House Committee on Rules, chaired by Rep. Louise Slaughter D-NY-28, hens H.R. 4872. Others have wanted to ignore Sen. Conrad's statements as an opponent of the public option, but he does have some experience in this area.
"They’re fully aware where we stand," Conrad said. "They know because they’ve agreed to take lots of things out in order to avoid Byrd rule issues, but they know full well, as do we, that the Parliamentarian has not reached conclusion on everything and won’t until he hears from both sides. And, you know, I just think that the odds would tell you — I mean out of 153 pages [in the bill] — that there are probably going to be a few things that still will be subject to a Byrd rule challenge and maybe some of them successful."
Conrad also said the Parliamentarian has not ruled on whether changes to the "Cadillac" insurance tax would violate budget act rules prohibiting provisions from dealing with Social Security. Senate Republicans have said they are likely to mount a challenge to those changes. The Cadillac tax, which was included in the Senate-passed health care bill, would impose taxes on expensive health insurance plans. House Democrats balked because of the effect it could have on union-negotiated health plans, and it was scaled back in the reconciliation measure
The Speaker today referred to the excise tax of the highest end plans as a tax on "platinum Rolls Royce plans". At this point organized workers union leadership have supported this approach. If the Senate-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passes the House, process is what the Republicans have left. We will just have to wait until the here-to-fore unknown Mr. Frumin gives the Senate his opinion.
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The vote in the House may be sometime after 2 PM on Sunday. Some Democrats have taken a stand on principles. Leader McConnell just now tried to put the fear of consequences out there for those on the fences. Ezra Klein has some musing about consequence of tough vote, both in the immediate and for the future of the country.
She is, as Clinton himself often says, a profile in courage. She's still being interviewed and sounded out today. Compare that to the dozens or hundreds of congressmen who have lost their seats without the excuse of a courageous vote. That would truly be awful.
As the former Representative for Pennsylvania puts:
Simply put, you could be Margolies-Mezvinskied whether you vote with or against President Obama. You will be assailed no matter how you vote this week. And this job isn't supposed to be easy. So cast the vote that you won't regret in 18 years.
Paging Rep. Stephen Lynch D-MA-09, Mr. Stephan Lynch.
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Vice President Biden made a joke at the expense of Dick Morris last night, something about feet, at the White House Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner.
Enter the Orange Guy.
House Minority Leader John Boehner tried to stiffen bankers’ resolve as they prepare an attack on Capitol Hill change the financial overhaul legislation. "Don’t let those little punk staffers take advantage of you and stand up for yourselves," the Ohio Republican told the American Bankers Association government relations summit Wednesday ...
House and Senate staffers against ABA lobbyists. That's a fair fight in a dark elevator.
First former Speaker Newt Gingrich, now the current Minority Leader. Sort of makes sense if you consider their different approach to taxing earned versus unearned income over the years.
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There was a press conference by the GOP members in the House Radio Gallery before the Rules Committee meeting yesterday Do you think there was discussion of the Dreier Doctrine?
This was going to be part of the Capitol Hill News today, but read this research instead. So delicious.
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Rep. Mike Pence R-IL-06 continues to convince us that he may be just stone-cold policy wonk.
And only in Washington can such willful obtuseness be considered a professional attribute.
Or not.
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In the fight Bart Stupak D-MI-01 has waged against having any insurance cover a legal procedure, his life has become like a living hell.
LIMEDILLIGAF
There are special nuns that can refresh the young Mr. Stupak on hell.
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The Most Important News of the Day TM
Gibbs last answer at this afternoon's White House Briefing, held outside today.
When you interview the President, the most productive way is to let the President answer the question.
Was he talking about this?