Media Center
Interview: What Dingell’s Retirement Means For Congress
Senior Fellow Marian Currinder spoke with the Huffington Post today about recent congressional retirement announcements — the so called casualty list — and their potential implications for the next Congress. This conversation took place one day after longtime Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) announced he will not run for reelection after his current term
GAI on Federal News Radio
Hosts Bob Leins and Tammy Flanagan of the For Your Benefit program welcomed Dr. Kenneth Gold, director, and Dr. Marian Currinder, senior fellow and curriculum chair, from the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. The discussion focused on today’s political environment and the state of affairs of the federal government budget. The political dynamics of the 113th Congress
Grijalva Unapologetic Over Missed Votes
GAI Senior Fellow Susan Lagon, Ph.D. spoke with AZ Central about why Members of Congress — such as Rep. Raúl Grijalva — miss floor votes and what that means. Read the full article, or the following excerpt: Floor votes are one of the most visible jobs for a member of Congress,
Interview on Compromise Budget Bill
In a rare moment of cooperation, Congress looks ready to pass a bipartisan budget bill that will ease sequester cuts and keep the government running for the next two years. Orchestrated by Democratic senator Patty Murray and Republican representative Paul Ryan, the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $20 billion. It passed the House
Talking About Reform In Aftermath Of Senate’s “Nuclear Option”
Since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used the so-called “nuclear option” to essentially end the filibuster on most presidential nominations on Thursday, there has been considerable speculation over the future of the filibuster on legislation. GAI Senior Fellow Joshua Huder argues that the filibuster, when used correctly, can foster bipartisanship and calls for
Charles Cushman Speaks With Voice of Russia On Filibuster
On Thursday, the Senate agreed to lower the amount of votes needed to break a filibuster from 60 to 51. Reid says the drastic decision was borne out of frustration from repeated Republican attempts to block President Obama’s judicial and executive nominees. Republicans have countered saying the Democrats will regret this move as soon as
Expert Reactions to Government Shutdown
Senior Fellow Josh Huder followed-up to his October 4 post — written with Senior Fellow Marian Currinder on Speaker Boehner’s ability to negotiate a compromise — with a post on the budget outlook: “In the wake of the government shutdown and near default on the nation’s debt, one
WaPo Roundup of House Vote Commentary
Jonathan Bernstein cited Josh Huder’s blog post on the outlook for the Boehner speakership following last night’s House vote. The House Vote 550 passed the Senate Budget Compromise bill which reopened all government functions. The bill passed with only 87 Republican votes; 144 Republicans voted against the bill.
Huder: On Federal Shutdown Affecting Travelers
Christopher Elliott for the Washington Post explores how the federal government shutdown is affecting travelers around the United States. “When a gridlocked Congress shuttered vast sections of the federal government on Oct. 1 and furloughed 800,000 workers, its decision touched tourists in unexpected ways, from abruptly canceling a camping trip in a national
Lagon: A Knockout Blow for Campaign Finance Laws
The Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010 delivered a wallop that left federal campaign finance regulations reeling, but McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission threatens to land the knockout blow. Throughout the nearly four decades since its decision in Buckley v. Valeo, the court has consistently recognized a key distinction between contributions made directly to