Politics

Congress Links

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

Even though the House and Senate are in recess until next week, the drama continues on Capitol Hill. Here are a few articles and blog posts of note from the day:

• Sen. Evan Bayh’s [D, IN] decision not to seek re-election has thrown state and national Democrats for a loop. For a while, it looked like Bayh’s late retirement decision would saddle his party with a long-shot replacement, but as Talking Points Memo reports, the Democrats dodged a bullet. (Talking Points Memo)
• In related news, what happens to Bayh’s $13 million campaign war chest? Apparently, it’s totally up to Bayh (Talking Points Memo)
• Across the asile, Sen. John McCain [R, AZ] says he and Senate Republicans will unveil a ?10-point election year agenda? in a move reminiscent of Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America. (The Hill)
• This announcement comes as former Arizona Representative and conservative firebrand J.D. Hayworth officially announced his intention to challenge McCain in the upcoming Republican primary. (The New York Times)
• Speaking of former and soon-to-be-former lawmakers, the Hill expects the trend of retiring lawmakers becoming lobbyists to continue. Several major trade associations have high-powered job openings and, by coincidence, several high powered lawmakers will soon be looking for a job. (The Hill)
• In other lobbying news, the Los Angeles Times reports that spending on lobbying by top banks and private equity firms rose by 12 percent from 2008. (The Los Angeles Times)
• Noah Kristula-Green warns the GOP that it is not enough to uniformly oppose democratic health care proposals. The party must come up with its own ideas as well. (FrumForum)

Full post as published by Open Congress on February 17, 2010 (boomark / email).