House Cloakroom Analysis: This week, the House returns from a week of recess to take up a bill that would require the President to produce a date by which his proposed budget will balance. The Require a PLAN Act would be triggered when the President sends his budget to Congress … More

Senate Cloakroom: January 28 – February 1 Analysis: This week, the Senate will take up the House-passed Sandy relief bill and hold a confirmation vote on Senator John Kerry (D-MA) for the office of Secretary of State. The Sandy bill is expected the pass the Senate, although there will be … More

House Cloakroom Analysis: This week on Capitol Hill will begin with the inauguration of President Barack Obama to a second term in office. He will be sworn in on the west front of the Capitol at noon today with the House and Senate in attendance. It appears that the major … More

House Cloakroom: January 14 – January 18 Analysis: The 113th Congress begins its first full week in session on Monday as the House of Representatives returns to Washington after being officially sworn in on January 3. This week, the House will take up the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief bill. There … More

House Cloakroom: December 17 – December 21 Analysis: …when all through the House, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Their coats were all hung in the cloakroom with care, in hopes that a fiscal cliff deal soon would be there. Once again, the House has a noticeably … More

House Cloakroom: December 10 – December 14 Analysis: The waiting game continues here in Washington as the talks over the fiscal cliff continue. The House does not appear to be taking up any major legislation this week once again. However, there will be several hearings of note on both Dodd-Frank … More

House Cloakroom: December 3 – December 7 Analysis: The House has returned from its Thanksgiving vacation, when Members undoubtedly ate well and enjoyed numerous football games, to do… more of the same. They spent the most of the past week naming post offices until they finally got around to an … More

House Analysis: The House returns from the pre-election recess on Tuesday to confront the looming issues of the fiscal cliff. Negotiations will begin with President Obama and the congressional leadership on how best to resolve the issue of the automatic tax hikes and deep defense cuts. As a result, the … More

House Cloakroom: September 17 – September 21 Analysis: The House will be in session this week for the final week prior to the November elections and will take up immigration, welfare, and energy legislation. There will be a vote on a resolution under the Congressional Review Act regarding a rule … More

House Cloakroom: September 10 – September 14 Analysis: Both Houses of Congress return this week to tackle welfare policy, farm policies, and appropriations for the government. On September 30, the 2012 fiscal year will end, and the government will run out of funding without Congress acting. Because they did not … More