Revise & Extend
Congress and the Ulysses Solution: When Tying Your Hands Can Work; And When It Doesn’t
The sequester is in place despite Congress providing itself an expedited process meant to stave off these indiscriminate and draconian across-the-board cuts. Back in 2011, when congressional Republicans insisted on substantial spending cuts as the price of increasing the debt ceiling, the President and Speaker Boehner tried to reach a “grand bargain”. After failing in
The Boehner Rule: A Minority of the Majority?
What do the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Hurricane Sandy Relief Act, and the fiscal cliff deal have in common? All passed the House this year over the objection of a majority of the majority party. In bringing these bills to the House floor, Speaker John Boehner chose to willfully violate the “Hastert Rule”
“For Your Benefit” Radio Program
GAI faculty Kenneth Gold and Susan Sullivan Lagon joined hosts Bob Leins and Tammy Flanagan on the Federal News Radio program For Your Benefit. Topics discussed on the program broadcast include 2012 election results, polarization in both houses, resistance to compromise, leadership changes and committee chairs; the deficit and the
A History of Congressional Leadership
Senior Fellow John Haskell joined the C-SPAN Washington Journal program to talk about the roles and responsibilities of top leadership positions in both chambers of Congress.
Update on the Sequester and Its Potential Impact
With nine days to go, hope of averting the March 1 sequester continues to fade, with each side drawing a line in the sand, and little reason to believe that their differences can be breached any time soon. Last week the President again went on record demanding that any agreement to delay or cancel the
Filibuster Rules Changes Epitomize the Senate
The more things change… The Senate has spoken—at length—and the result is…not much. This sentence could characterize the 112th Congress as well as the changes agreed to in Senate Resolution 16, the first roll call of the 113th (86 yeas, 9 nays). After months of the majority’s frustration with constant filibuster threats, impassioned pleas for
Debt Ceiling Extension Likely to Pass; No Federal Pay Freeze
Later today the House will vote on a plan to effectively lift the debt limit for four months, removing, or at least postponing, the threat of default. The bill, HR 325, temporarily extends the debt limit without seeking any concessions on spending, and allows Republicans a way to avoid having to actually cast a vote
The Assault Weapons Ban: Lessons about Congress
In the wake of the tragic massacre in Newtown, President Obama set forth a list of proposed gun control measures including a new assault weapons ban. An earlier ban expired in 2004. Regardless of how you feel about the proposal or how effective the previous ban was, its 2004 expiration illustrates four features of the
Media Giants Big Donors To Rep. Markey
Senior Fellow Marian Currinder spoke with the Boston Globe regarding Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a leading contender to replace Sen. John Kerry. “Even if Markey is seen as hostile to corporate interests, the industry wants lawmakers like him to consider their viewpoints.” “You’re not counting on Markey — if you’re a big industry group —
Prospects for a Government Shutdown
With the first fiscal cliff deadline now behind them, congressional leaders and the White House have already begun to position on the next series of fiscal showdowns, which include the expiring debt ceiling, that has reportedly already been breached, although the Treasury Department can creatively manage until mid- to late February; the postponed sequester, downsized