70+ votes for immigration reform in the Senate? That sounds rather crazy, but John McCain thinks “it’s doable.” There’s a feeling amongst some of the senators working on the legislation that if the bill gains majority support from both parties in the Senate, the House won’t have any choice but to put it to a vote. We are skeptical that either of those things will happen, let alone both. source
Congress punts on debt ceiling: The House of Representatives passed a bill today that extends the nation’s debt limit until May 18th, effectively tabling the issue for another couple of months. This time, the GOP majority didn’t ask for spending cuts in exchange for the increase; rather, it simply demanded that both houses of congress pass a budget before April 15th. Otherwise, per the bill, all members of both bodies will have their salaries withheld (there’s some debate over whether or not this provision is constitutional). Also, while the majority of Republicans did vote for the bill, enough defected that John Boehner had to rally up a couple of Democrats to get it passed. Harry Reid says it’ll fly through the Senate without issue. (Photo credit: AP) source
Meet U.S. Representative Kyrsten Sinema, from Arizona’s 9th district. Labeled by her Republican opponent as an anti-American “pagan hippie,” Sinema is both the first openly bisexual member of Congress and the first member of Congress to publicly describe her religion as “none.”
Sinema, a former social worker and criminal defense lawyer, proves that honesty about one’s beliefs and identity does not doom one to political irrelevance.
This, in 2012, seemed both long overdue and increasingly inevitable. A lot of really big, really important “firsts” in our politics last year, in the forms of some very worthy and exciting new figures.
[Calling for John Boehner’s ouster] is like saying that the superintendent of an insane asylum should be discharged because he couldn’t control the crazy people. It’s nuts.GOP Rep. Steve “That’s A Bullshit Question” LaTourette, in the wake of Boehner’s failure to rally his own caucus around his “Plan B” legislation to avert the fiscal cliff. The accuracy of this characterization aside, we’d argue that a superintendent of an asylum who can’t control the inmates probably should, indeed, be discharged. source
Well that didn’t take long. Do you think the White House should have heard out House Republicans before shooting down Speaker Boehner’s idea?
Exactly two weeks after Election Day, we finally have a winner in the race to represent Florida’s 18th congressional district. After a prolonged battle “to ensure every vote is counted accurately and fairly”, incumbent Rep. Allen West appears to have lost by less than 2000 votes (0.58% of the electorate). source
Of course she’s not stepping down: Nancy Pelosi announced today that she will run for Minority Leader in the House next session, thus perpetuating her reign as one of the most powerful Democrats in the country. There was a bit of doubt that she’d stick around, really, this wasn’t terribly unexpected. source
The Congressman is receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder. He is responding positively to treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.A statement from the office of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. • Regarding the congressman’s condition, which has been shrouded in secrecy since he took leave from office a month ago. Jackson’s medical leave wasn’t announced until weeks after he left, and his condition has been described using vague wording ever since, causing an outcry from other representatives asking for information. “Mood disorder” is as specific as they’ve gotten.
The recent event’s totality of calumnies, indignities and deceits have weighed most heavily upon my family. Thus, acutely aware one cannot rebuild their hearth of home amongst the ruins of their U.S. House office, for the sake of my loved ones I must ‘strike another match, go start anew’ by embracing the promotion back from public servant to sovereign citizen.Dylan-quoting Rep. Thaddeus McCotter • In an open letter to his constituents, revealing that he’s resigning immediately, a month after he missed the deadline to run for own seat in November. Dude has had a rough year — the guitar-wielding conservative ran for the Republican nomination for president despite the fact that he had no national profile, dropped out shortly thereafter, then suffered the indignity of having to write an op-ed about failing to secure enough signatures to run for a sixth term. The final nail in the coffin? McCotter attempted to write a script for a TV show with such good-for-your-political-career topics as drinking, sex and flatulence. McCotter may struggle to find a new career path, especially in the wake of the news about the TV script; he’s promised that he won’t become a lobbyist, however.
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Congressman Jackson’s medical condition is more serious than we thought … Recently, we have been made aware that he has grappled with certain physical and emotional ailments privately for a long period of time.Frank Watkins, Spokesman for Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. • In a statement, given to the Chicago Sun-Times, explaining the Illinois Democrat’s extended absence from the House of Representatives. Prior to the announcement, Rep. Jackson (whose father is who you think he is) was set to take over multiple subcommittees should the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in November. There’s no word yet from Rep. Jackson’s office on whether or not this will lead to his resignation and/or an end to his bid for reelection. source (via • follow)
What’s more notable? The fact that the House of House of Representatives will initiate contempt proceedings against Eric Holder over Fast and Furious documents? Or the fact that a news outlet finally provided the correct pronunciation of John Boehner’s name? You be the judge. (Photo credit: AP). source
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