Washington Tidbits
It Does Not Have To Be So Difficult! (January 2012)After months of negotiations it appeared increasingly likely that the Senate and House would recess without addressing the Medicare physician fee schedule, allowing a devastating 27.4 percent reduction in Medicare physician reimbursement to take effect. In the end, however, it really did not take that long to enact legislation providing a temporary reprieve once a stop-gap compromise was agreed to by all sides. With the winter recess in their grasp, the House and Senate struck a deal to buy some time into the new year. In all, it took about 30 minutes for both chambers to act and send H.R. 3765 to the Presidents desk for his signature. The Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM Eastern Time on December 23 and approved H.R. 3765 sending it to the House at 9:31 AM. The Senate was in session for less than two minutes. The House was called to order at 10:00 AM and disposed of H.R. 3765 in about eight minutes. The eight minutes included the Pledge of Allegiance, Morning Prayer and some general housekeeping. The bill was signed into law that afternoon. It is interesting to see how quickly Congress can act once all sides find common ground! How Many Words Can You Say That In? (December 2011)
A great deal of attention will be paid to the legal process as the Supreme Court prepares to consider the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court is steeped in tradition and rule, perhaps rules and traditions are meant to be amended.
In announcing the briefing schedule for the PPACA, the Court announced a few changes of note. The word limit for the primary briefs was increased from 15,000 words to 16,500. The reply brief word limit was increased from 6,000 to 6,600. While this seems like a small departure from the norm, it is significant in the operations of the Supreme Court. The first briefs are due January 6. The Courts consideration of the PPAACA is almost certain to lead to other departures from the status quo. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (November 2011)
The Federal Government came within hours of beginning to default on some of its debt obligations on August 2. In the 23rd hour the President signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA)(Pub. L. 112-25) creating the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, among other things. As a result, the battle to reign in the nations growing debt heated up.
In order to extend the governments borrowing power and send the BCA to the Presidents desk for signature, an agreement had to be made to create a mechanism to ensure further reductions in spending. To this end, the Joint Select Committee was created to identify and propose at least an additional $1.5 trillion in savings over 10 years. The Committee, which is comprised of a total of six democrats and six republicans, three from each chamber, must propose a package to be sent to both the House and Senate by November 23. The two chambers must approve the yet-to-be released package by December 23 without amendment. Failure to accomplish this would result in across-the-board reductions beginning on January 2, 2013. A great deal of work remains between now and the end of the year! Debt Ceiling IncreasesIt Has All Been Done Before (August 2011)
There are two types of federal debt: debt held by the public and debt held by government accounts. The total federal debt is the combination of these two. The debt limit is the total amount of money that the Federal Government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations. These obligations include Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries and interest on the national debt, among other things. The national debt is not a stagnant number, but fluctuates with evolving revenues and outlays.
In light of the recent activities in Washington, one would be lead to believe that raising the debt limit is rarely done. Interestingly enough, the debt limit has been raised more than 75 times since 196049 times under Republican presidents and 30 times under Democratic presidents. In fact, the debt limit has been raised 11 times since 2001. Congress must still address a number of issues related to the federal debt. As such, the negotiations of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction will be crucial. You have not heard the last of federal debt limits! The Birth of a Nation And More (July 2011)
Each year we celebrate July 4th. We enjoy barbeques, fireworks and friends and family in celebration of our great Nation. This summer tradition could have been very different, however, had the tides of history turned in the fields west of where the Nation was born.
Just 87 years after the founding of our Nation and 125 miles west of Philadelphia, PA a three-day battle waged over the fields of Gettysburghanging in the balance was the fate of a young nation. Over 165,000 soldiers, lead by Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Union Major General George Gordon Meade, battled over three days in and around a town of 2,400 residents. As General Lees troops retreated to Virginia and smoke rose over the fields on July 3, 1863 over 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured or missing. While the Civil War raged on for two more years, the Confederate Army was never able to recover from its losses and the Nation was ultimately preserved. In November, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln in his famed address proclaimed, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. Reducing a Commute? (June 2011)
The Residence Act of 1790 directed President George Washington to designate a site for the new Federal District that would serve as our Nations capitol. The North agreed to the Southern location in exchange for relieving the North of its debt from the Revolutionary War. The location was selected by President Washington in-part because of its access to sea trade and its inland location, which provided a strategic defense against attack. It may not have hurt that the location was just 16 miles north on the Potomac River from his beloved plantation, Mount Vernon! The Effect of the Divided Congress--By the Numbers (May 2011)
The 2010 elections reshaped the political playing field in Washington and altered the balance of power in the halls of Congress. Prior to the November elections, the democrats controlled the House by a margin of 255 to 178. After the elections the republicans control the House by a margin of 241 to 192. While the Senate remains in the hands of democrats, the margins have dwindled from 57 to 41 to the current divide of 51 to 47. As a result, congressional activity has slowed to a crawl.
By the end of March 2010, 29 bills were enacted into law, 313 bills were approved and 301 votes took place. Congress spent 538 hours in session. During the same time period in 2011 Congress spent 501 hours in session. However, only seven bills were enacted into law, 167 bills were approved, and 256 total votes took place. The division of power in the House and Senate has changed the dynamics of moving legislation. The process will not pick up steam as we move closer to the 2012 elections and the race for the White House. 112th Congress Off To A Predictable Start (March 2011)
Our founding fathers thought that a divided government was of the utmost importance. As argued for in Federalist Paper No. 51, Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure. Article I of the U.S. Constitution reflects this belief and creates a bi-cameral legislature embodied in the House and Senate. The legislative activity during the first three months of the 112th Congress highlights the intended consequences of this design.
During the same time period in the 111th Congress, four pieces of major legislation where signed into law. At the time, Democrats controlled the House, Senate and White House. The November elections changed the balance of power in the House and reduced the margins of divide in the Senate. With the House now in the control of the Republicans and the Senate remaining in the control of the Democrats, no significant legislation has been signed into law thus far in the 112th Congress. Each chamber has chosen legislative paths that have yet to converge. The result is few bills being sent to the Presidents desk for signature. The current divisions in the House and Senate appear to be accomplishing the founders intent to limit government. The Peaceful Transfer of PowerA New Congress (February 2011)
The 112th Congress convened at approximately 12:00 noon Eastern Time on January 5 when both the House and Senate were called to order. Among those taking the oath office were 94 freshmen in the House and 13 freshmen in the Senate. Joining the freshman class in the House is Joe Heck, DO, an emergency room physician from Henderson, NV. Forty-three of the freshmen in the House and Senate never held an elected office before being sent to Washington. Of the 435 members of the House: 78 are women; 148 practiced law; 17 are physicians; and 92 members are veterans. Of the 100 senators; 18 are women; 50 practiced law; three are physicians; and 26 senators are veterans. The composition of the new Congress is certain to shape policies debated and advanced throughout the 112th Congress. Mid-Term Elections Part II : A Tsunami Hits Washington (December 2010)
Voters went to the polls on November 2 to cast their votes for their representatives and one-third of senators. As the waters recede from the tsunami, one thing is certain, the political landscape will never be the same.
Prior to the November elections, the House consisted of 255 Democrats and 178 Republicans (with two vacancies). The Senate consisted of 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 1 Independent and 1 Independent Democrat. Following the elections, Republicans picked up an astounding 64 seats in the House and six in the Senate. There will be at least 94 new members of the House and 16 members of the Senate with a few races still pending. At least 35 of the newly elected officials have never held office of any kind. As a result of the elections the Republicans will control the House in the 112th Congress. The margin of division in the Senate will be reduced increasing the need for compromise. The 112th Congress is certain to be an interesting one! Mid-Term Elections - Is A Wave Coming? (October 2010)
Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution provides that each representative is chosen every second year while senators are divided into three classes to serve six year terms. As a result, representatives stand for election every two years along with one-third of senators. This years election is slated for November 2. At stake is control of the House, the Senate and ultimately the legislative agenda for the next two years.
A review of the historical composition of the House and Senate suggests that the party in the White House often suffers some losses in the mid-term elections. If polls are to be believed, it appears to be the case again this year. In 1994 President Bill Clinton was in the White House. That November the Democrats lost 54 seats in the House, nine seats in the Senate and control of both chambers of Congress. The House today consists of 255 Democrats and 178 Republicans (there are two vacancies). The Senate consists of 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 1 Independent and 1 Independent Democrat. What will the composition be after this years mid-term elections? The results are certain to shape the legislative agenda for the foreseeable future. More to follow! Vice Presidential Busts A Marble History (August 2010)
A walk through the halls of the Senate with an eye to the niches in the walls will unveil a collection of art that tells more than the history of the chamber, but also the history of our nation.
A resolution was first passed on May 13, 1886, that began the commissioning of busts to honor the vice presidents of the United States. Their connection to the history of the Senate is a result of Article 1, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution which provides, The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. A careful review of the busts will unveil individuals who have been lost in the annals of history, as well as those who have served in the highest office in the land. Of the 44 vice presidents who have been immortalized in marble around the Senate chamber, 14 have served as President of the United States. Is There a Vacancy? (July 2010)
Article 2, Section 2, Clause 3, of the US Constitution provides, “The President shall have the power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.” President Obama used this constitutionally provided power to appoint Dr. Donald Berwick as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on July 7. Is the exercise of the appointment power as rare as some might suggest? Since 1933 there have been over 1,334 vacancies filled by recess appointments. The most appointments were made by President Ronald Reagan (243) and the fewest appointments were made by President Gerald Ford (12). To date, President Obama has made 17 appointments. President George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments. A recess appointment expires at the end of the next session of the Senate, or at which time an individual is confirmed by the Senate to the position. The constitutionally protected ability to appoint individuals to positions during a Senate recess has been widely used in the past and is certain to be used again in the future. Let the Legal Challenges Begin! (June 2010)
Laws have many ways of being shaped. The legislative process allows for legislation to be introduced and amended prior to being approved by the House and Senate. Once a bill is signed into law it can further be shaped and refined through the regulatory process. If all else fails to amend a law—file suit. With the enactment of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (PPACA)(H.R. 3590)(Pub.L. 111-148) have come the lawsuits. To date, 20 state governors and attorneys general have filed a suit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the PPACA. At issue is whether the federal government has the authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution to require individuals to carry healthcare coverage. In addition to the lawsuit filed by the states, more than a dozen other suits have been filed by individuals and organizations. Additional lawsuits are almost certain to ensue. The final form of the PPACA is far from complete. It’s Been Done Before (April 2010)
You may have heard a great deal about the use of the budget reconciliation process in the news as of late as a mechanism to advance healthcare reform legislation. Some have expressed outrage over the use of the process stating that it should never be used. A closer look at the history of the process and its use may shed some light on the current debate. The process of budget reconciliation was created by the 1974 Budget Act (Pub. L. 93-344) and was intended to be used as an expedited procedure to advance deficit reduction legislation. It has been used to do this as well as advance other pieces of major legislation. For example, the budget reconciliation process was used in 1997 to create the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and was again used in 2001 and 2003 to advance tax cuts, to name just a few instances. Since 1974, the process has led to the enactment of 19 pieces of legislation. Of the 19 reconciliation bills enacted, 11 contained healthcare provisions, such as the creation of COBRA coverage as well as legislation impacting physician reimbursement under the Medicare program. The use of budget reconciliation to advance the current healthcare reform debate was not the first time, nor will it likely be the last, that the technique is used to move legislation. Washington Grinds to a Halt (Feburary 2010)
The Washington area continues to dig out from beneath two massive winter storms that brought the Federal Government to a frozen halt earlier this month. Since 1998, the government has been closed a total of 12 days. Of those 12 days, the government was closed for two national days of mourning for the passing of former presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. In 2000 and 2003 the government was closed for two consecutive days (four days total) for weather-related reasons. From December 20, 2009 through February 11, 2010, the government was closed for five days, with the area seeing record-breaking amounts of snow. It has been more than 12 years since the government shut down for more than two consecutive days due to weather events. Is it Spring yet? Tis The Season� (December 2009)
The tradition of lighting the Capitol Christmas tree continued on December 8. Each year, the U.S. Forest Service chooses a state from which a tree is selected to be placed at the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. In addition to the main tree, which is placed on the west lawn of the Capitol, the state also provides approximately 80 smaller trees that are placed throughout the Capitol complex. This year�s tree was harvested in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona. The tree is an 85 foot Blue spruce, the largest tree to date. The tree is covered with nearly 5,000 ornaments hand-crafted by Arizona school children and is illuminated by over 10,000 LED lights. Since 1964, trees have been harvested in 22 different states. The smallest tree was a 24 foot tall Douglas fir from Pennsylvania. Season�s Greetings!change detailed in CMS Transmittal 1875 which is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Transmittals/2009Trans/list.asp. Just Drop It� (November 2009)
As the health care debate wages on here in Washington you may have heard that �legislation has been dropped in the House.� In legislative parlance that means that a bill has been introduced. But why is it referred to as �dropping a bill?� In order for a member to introduce legislation, he or she must physically drop a signed copy of the legislative text into a receptacle in the House chamber called �the hopper.� Once the bill is placed in the hopper, the Clerk of the House assigns a bill number and the bill is referred to the committee(s) of jurisdiction. A bill can only be dropped when the House is in session. This means that four reams of paper were dropped into the hopper to introduce the 1,990 page �Affordable Health Care for America Act� (H.R. 3962) alone! Health Care Lobbyists Abound� (September 2009)
As Congress returns to session, one topic that is certain to be at the top of the legislative agenda is the reform of the healthcare delivery system. As of August, there were over 3,300 registered health care lobbyists representing more than 1,500 organizations. As a result, there are approximately six healthcare lobbyists per each of the 535 members of Congress. According to the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 307,200,026 Americans. That means that there is approximately one healthcare lobbyist per 93,091 citizens. At this time, there are more registered healthcare lobbyists per capita than there are representatives and senators! The healthcare debate this fall is certain to be intense and debated from many points of view. One Small Step� (August 2009)
As Congress returns home for the August recess you will hear a great deal about healthcare reform. Many will think that as long as Congress is out of Washington they can not cause any long-term harm. Take heart, Congress does occasionally get it right as evidenced by a 40th anniversary that took place on July 20. The year was 1958 and the space race was underway. The then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson ushered through legislation entitled the �National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958,� creating NASA and the National Aeronautics and Space Council. As a result of the work performed by these and other agencies created by congressional action, men first walked on the moon on July 20, 1969. Over the next few months, the healthcare reform debate will seem far more complicated than what Congress put in motion in 1958 resulting in human footprints on the moon and over 100 successful space flights. As with efforts to explore unknown universes, the thousands of pages of legislative text to reform the healthcare system that have been drafted so far are just the beginning chapters of a book that will be written over the upcoming weeks, months and years. July 4�A Date of Great Significance (July 2009)
When one thinks of July 4, thoughts often turn to barbeques and the birth of a nation. Interestingly enough, July 4 also marked the birth of a lifelong friendship and the death of two of our nation�s founding fathers. Through serving together in the Continental Congress and working together to draft the Declaration of Independence two delegates, one from Massachusetts and one from Virginia, became close friends. The friendship lasted for years until the gentleman from Massachusetts, while serving as the second President of the United States, made appointments to federal positions during the waning days of his administration that the next president, the gentleman from Virginia, feared would undermine his administration. Their friendship suffered for years until Dr. Benjamin Rush, a mutual friend and signer of the Declaration of Independence, took it upon himself to heal the wounds that separated these once close friends. The second and third Presidents of the United States, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, respectively, remained close friends until the day they died, July 4, 1826--within hours of one another.
All Aboard! (June 2009)
There has been a great deal of discussion as of late regarding the probability of Congress approving and the President signing major health care reform legislation this year. All one has to do is look to 2003 to determine the probability of such action.
The �Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003� (MMA)(Pub. Law 108-173), was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003. The legislation added a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, laid the foundation for the advancement of quality improvement programs and established health savings accounts (HSAs), among many other things. This massive legislative package overcame many hurdles to make it to the President�s desk. How was it accomplished?
The legislation contained a little something for everyone and relied on creative financing to make it affordable. Who can forget the creation of the �doughnut hole� in the Medicare prescription drug benefit? The legislation was the only vehicle leaving the station, and as such, was the only opportunity to address the concerns of various constituencies. Groups either supported the legislation or let their priorities fall to the side. You can be assured that the yet-to-be-released bill to reform the health care system will rely on the same techniques. A case study in the way Washington works can always be found in the enactment of massive legislative packages! We will see in the upcoming weeks and months what the next massive package will contain.
The Final Numbers are Now in the Book (April 2009)
Every two years in early January senators and representatives converge on the U.S. Capitol to convene a new Congress. Each Congress is divided into a first and second session that each spans one year. It is during this two-year cycle that legislation is introduced and acted upon. All legislation not enacted expires at the end of each Congress and must be reintroduced to be considered in the future. The �R�sum� of Congressional Activity� tracks the actions of each Congress. The 110th Congress, which concluded in early January, saw the introduction of 14,042 measures. Of the measures introduced, only 416 became law. It is back to the drawing board for more than 97 percent of all bills introduced in the 110th Congress!
The �Dean of the House� Sets a New Record (February 2009)
It started on January 22, 1956 and continues through today. Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI) became the longest serving member of the House when he entered his 19,420th day of service on February 11. Representative Dingell, who is 82 years old, replaced his father who was a 12-term congressman in a special election following his death. The significance of his service in the House is evidenced by the fact that he was presiding over the chamber on April 8, 1965 when the House approved the creation of Medicare. The Michigan House seat has been held by one of two Dingells for over 70 years!
Congress Was Ahead of the Curve? (January 2009)
Luther Leonidas Terry, MD, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, released his seminal report titled, �Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States� on January 11, 1964. The report led to the enactment of the �Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965,� which created the well-know Surgeon General�s warning on cigarette packages. However, it was in 1871 that the House banned smoking in its galleries and chamber when in session. Amazingly, in 1896 smoking was banned by the rules of the House at all times. Then Speaker, David Henderson of Iowa in a floor statement in support of the rule said, �I believe that since I have had a seat in this body members have been killed not alone because of the polluting effects of tobacco but generally because of the impure air in this Hall. I think this provision will be a great step toward the preservation of the health of members of this body.� The ban did not extend beyond the chamber and its galleries. It was not until 2007 that smoking was banned throughout the entire Capitol.
The 2008 Elections by the Numbers (December 2008)
One of the longest election seasons in history came to a conclusion on Tuesday, November 4th. In all, more than 125,225,901 individuals cast their votes for federal, state and local officials. President-elect Barack Obama earned 54 percent of the popular vote (29 states and the District of Columbia and 365 electoral votes) to Senator John McCain�s 46 percent (22 states and 175 electoral votes). Democrats will begin the 111th Session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2009 controlling both the Senate and House by a minimum margin of 58 to 40 and 255 to 175, respectively. Two races remain undecided in the Senate with a recount underway in Minnesota and a runoff scheduled for early December in Georgia. If you already miss the 24 hour a day campaigning, fear not, the 2012 maneuvering has already begun!
The Race for 270 Electoral Votes (October 2008)
In just a few weeks, people from across the country will walk into polling booths to select the next President of the United States�or will they? While Election Day takes place on Tuesday, November 4, there are two other votes that are essential to an individual taking the oath of office on January 20, 2009. After the popular votes are counted on November 4, Democrat and Republican electors will meet in their state capitols on December 15 to cast their votes based on the popular vote (electors are party activists) in their state. Article II Section 1 of the Constitution requires that the electors �meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be inhabitant of the same state with themselves.� The vote of the Electoral College in each state is then sent sealed to �the seat of the government of the United States,� where before the President of the Senate shall, �in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all of the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted.� A minimum of 270 electoral votes is needed to become President. In the event of a tie, the House of Representatives would choose the next President by ballot with one vote being allocated to each state. This has happened only once when in 1800 Thomas Jefferson was selected President by the House after 36 ballots. It is essential to vote on November 4! It is your vote that will determine how the electors vote in December and ultimately who will become the 44th President of the United States.
Convention Special: The Candidates are Set (September 2008)
With the conclusion of the Democratic and Republican national conventions in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, respectively, the candidates are set for the final leg of the race to the White House. You might be surprised to learn that the nominating process was not always the well-orchestrated coronation that we see today. The first national convention was not held until 1831 by the Anti-Masonic Party in Baltimore, MD. The Democratic and Republican parties followed suit in 1832. In 1860 the Democratic Party met for 10 days and was unable to select a presidential nominee. The Party was forced to meet six weeks later in another town to finalize its nomination of Andrew Jackson. In 1920 the Republican Party faced its own challenges. After nine ballots the party still had not selected its nominee. It is believed that a small group of party officials met out of the public�s eye in a smoke-filled hotel suite to cut the deal that led to the nomination of Ohio Senator Warren Harding on the 10th ballot. Thus the �smoke-filled room� was born. The conclusion of this year�s national party conventions was a continuation of a process that began over 175 years ago in Baltimore and continues to be refined each election cycle. The result this time around is the Obama-Biden ticket for the Democratic Party and the McCain-Palin ticket for the Republican Party�let the campaigning begin!
It is Hard to Find a Place to Hang Your Hat (August 2008)
Article III of the U.S. Constitution provides, �The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.� While the Supreme Court was provided for as one of the three coequal branches of government, it was not until the early part of the 20th Century that the Supreme Court had a place to call its own. The Court first met in the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. Following the government�s move to Philadelphia, the Court met in Independence Hall and then City Hall. When the government moved to Washington, DC the Court met in the Capitol having to move nearly half a dozen times. In fact, after the British set fire to the Capitol in 1812, the Court met in a private home for a short period of time. It was not until 1935, 146 years after it first convened, that the Court moved into its current location. The Supreme Court building was built for $9,740,000. Upon completion of the building, $94,000 was returned to the Treasury�the building was built and furnished under budget!
Does Age Really Matter? (July 2008)
Article I Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution provides, �No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty years�.� While the Constitution is clear on this point, you may be surprised to learn that it has not always been followed. In fact, the youngest U.S. Senator to be sworn in was John Henry Eaton (TN) at the ripe old age of 28 years, 5 months on November 16, 1818. Had someone decided to challenge his position as a U.S. Senator, he could have pointed to precedent established in 1816 and 1806 when Armistead Mason (VA) and Henry Clay (KY) who were 28 and 29 years of age, respectively, took office. The issue reappeared when Rush Holt (WV), after waiting six months into the session, was sworn in at the age of 30. The youngest person to take office after Senator Holt was current U.S. Senator Joseph Biden (DE) at 30 years, one month in January 1973.
the Candidates Are Set (June 2008)
There have been over 105 contests in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. The Democratic Party started with eight mainstream candidates while the Republican Party started with 11. Of the candidates who sought their party's nomination, six are current U.S. senators. Six months later, thousands of delegates have been distributed and we are now down to two presumptive candidates. After a long and bruising primary season, it now appears that race for the White House is on!
Spring is in the Air (May 2008)
Washington, DC is a town full of spectacular views. There are some views, however, that are available just once a year and only for a few weeks. It all began in 1912 when the United States received a gift of 3,020 flowering cherry trees from the people of Japan. The gift of �friendship� attracts visitors from all around the world each year. The visitors come to see the cherry blossoms blanket the monuments in a sea of color. The gift was returned, most notably in 1981, when Japanese horticulturalists took cuttings from Yoshino cherry trees to replace trees destroyed by a flood in Japan. Today, there are over 3,700 cherry trees. It is truly a sight to behold!
The Rare Journey: Capitol Hill to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (March 2008)
As the race for the White House continues, one thing is certain, the next Commander-in-Chief will be one of only three. In the history of the presidency, fifteen senators have gone on to become President of the United States. The last former U.S. Senator to become President was Richard M. Nixon in 1969. It is even rarer, however, for a sitting senator to become President. It has happened only twice. Warren G. Harding, a first-term Republican Senator from Ohio, became President in 1921. John F. Kennedy, a second-term Democratic senator from Massachusetts, was the second to be elected president as a sitting senator in 1961. Neither President Harding nor President Kennedy served a full term. Regardless of whether John McCain, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama are elected President, the winner of this fall�s election will be only the third sitting senator to move directly up the street to Pennsylvania Avenue.
From an Annual Message to a State of the Union (February 2008)
Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution states, �He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient�.� President George Washington first fulfilled this requirement in a speech before Congress in Federal Hall in New York on January 8, 1790. From 1801 to 1913 the annual message was sent in writing and not presented in person in response to President Thomas Jefferson�s belief that the oral presentation was too �kingly.� The annual message was not spoken again for the next 112 years. It was not until President Woodrow Wilson gave his annual message in 1913 that the annual message was again spoken before a joint session of Congress. In 1935 President Franklin Roosevelt first used the term �State of the Union.� The annual spoken message has been known as such ever since.
Election 2008 Special Edition: Delegates 101 (January 2008)
The race for the White House began on January 3 in Iowa with the first delegates being awarded to Republican and Democratic hopefuls. The contenders are now barn-storming from state-to-state in an effort to win primaries and caucuses with the hope of securing the necessary number of delegates to become their party�s presidential nominee. What is the role of delegates in this process? Over the upcoming weeks and months you will see and hear a great deal about state primaries and caucuses and the race for delegates. The Republican and Democratic national parties establish the rules by which they nominate their candidates for President. Both parties rely on the use of delegates at their national conventions. In most instances, delegates to the national conventions are awarded to a candidate proportional to the percentage of the popular vote the candidate receives in the state�s primary or caucus. The Democratic party rules differ slightly in that a candidate must receive at least 15 percent of the popular vote in order to be awarded any of the state�s delegates. The Democratic nominee must secure a simple majority (2,225) of the party�s 4,049 possible delegates. Conversely, a Republican hopeful must secure a simple majority (1,191) of the 2,380 available delegates. These numbers can fluctuate a little between now and the time of the Democratic and Republican Conventions that will take place at the end of August and the beginning of September in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, respectively. To date, an estimated 300 delegates have been awarded. The race to become the 44th President of the United States is well underway!
Expeditious Legislating (December 2007)
The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate operate under extensive parliamentary rules. The ability to move legislation through Congress is often contingent upon a bill sponsor�s ability to maneuver through parliamentary roadblocks that can be placed by opponents of legislation along the way to its approval. Both the House and the Senate have rules under which �non-contentious� bills can be moved by unanimous consent. In the Senate, the maneuver is called �hotlining.� The process takes its name from a dedicated telephone line that allows senators to alert one another of unanimous consent requests on bills that are almost ready for consideration. This allows senators to shield the legislation from public attention. Fortunately, it takes only one senator to stall the legislation by placing a �hold� on the bill.
Two Statues for Every State (November 2007)
One cannot walk through the U.S. Capitol without noticing the remarkable pieces of art that grace the walls and line the halls. One thing that visitors to the Capitol are certain to notice is the presence of marble and bronze statues representative of each state.. This collection, which now numbers 100, is the result of legislation signed into law on July2, 1864. The legislation, which established the National Statuary Hall in the old chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, allows states to choose a maximum of two deceased individuals to be immortalized for their distinguished civic or military service.
As the number of states and statues grew, the floor of the old chamber of the House could no longer support the weight of the collection. As a result, Statuary Hall was rearranged and now contains one large statue from each state and the remaining statues are dispersed throughout the corridors of the Capitol, in the Hall of Columns (located on the Senate side of the Capitol) and in the Central Hall of the east front of the Capitol. do you know who your state chose to be represented in this collection? You can find out by visiting www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/index.cfm?sort=state
"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands of which have connected them with another...," so begins the Declaration of Independence. Before quill was put to parchment in 1776, events were transpiring in the North that would lead to this document and the birth of a nation. At about 10:00 pm on the evening of Tuesday, April 18, a number of soldiers were marching. Shortly thereafter, the boats were launched. Two lanterns were hung from the North Church steeple as a prearranged signal. The year was 1774 and a silversmith by the name of Paul Revere, after crossing the Charles River by rowboat, mounted a horse to ride to Lexington and into history. For the British were coming and the birth of a new nation was about to enter its most formative years. The historical significance of Boston, Massachusetts, the surrounding area and its early residents cannot be overstated. Osteopathic internists and others will converge on Boston October 10-14 where new history will be made. Join us at the 67th Annual Convention and Scientific Sessions which will be held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. You will be able to earn up to 41.25 hour os Category 1A CME Credits and enjoy the historical treasures of Boston where a nation was born!
A Desk With A History (August 2007)
Many of us throughout the course of the day will utilize a desk. Few, however, will ever have the opportunity to use a desk with the history of those used by U.S. Senators. Following the torching of the U.S. Capitol on August 14, 1814 by British troops, Thomas Constantine was selected to construct 48 desks and chairs for the re-built Senate Chamber. The cabinet maker from New York was paid $34 for each desk and $48 for each chair. While the chairs have been replaced, all 48 desks remain in use today. Additional desks and chairs have been added over the years to accommodate the expansion of the Senate. The newest desks were built in 1959 for the Senators from Alaska and Hawaii. To date, over 1,600 senators have sat at the senate desks!
Play Ball! (July 2007)
During these summer months one often flips on the evening news or opens the local paper to see how the home team played the day before. One game that you may not have seen the score for is the Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game. Each year, congressional Democrats and Republicans field teams that play each other to raise funds for charity. The first game was played in 1909 with the Democrats winning 26 to 16. The most recent game was played Monday, June 25. The Republicans won 5 to 2. Since the game�s inception in 1909, seven former professional baseball players have played in the game--they were elected to Congress following their baseball careers.
The 10,000 Votes Club (June 2007)
Since the U.S. Senate first convened in New York City on March 4, 1789 many milestones have been reached by sitting senators. Perhaps one of the most impressive occurs when a senator casts his or her 10,000th vote. Of the 1,246 people who have served in the Senate, only 28 people ever have voted more than 10,000 times. Of these, 13 senators still serve today, including Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) who has cast well over 17,000 votes!
Congress by the Numbers (May 2007)
Congress first convened on March 4, 1789 under Article I, Section 1 of the US Constitution which provides that �All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.� Since 1789, 11,792 individuals have served in either the House, the Senate or in both chambers. There have been 1,246 individuals who served as senators while 9,903 people have served as representatives. Only 634 people have served in both the House and the Senate. Alaska, which entered the Union on January 3, 1959 as the 49th state, has had the fewest representatives and senators (10). New York, which entered the Union on July 26, 1788 as the 11th state, has had the most individuals serve as representatives and senators (1,457). For more detailed information and a break down of representation by states and commonwealths, you may visit http://clerk.house.gov/.
Moving can be an arduous task (April 2007)
Imagine the challenge confronting the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the U.S. House of Representatives every two years. In order to prepare the House for the new session of Congress that began on January 4, over 1,000 employees completed a move almost beyond comprehension. CAO staff moved a total of 209 member, committee and leadership offices containing 8,392 pieces of furniture. Communication demands required 4,900 telephones to be moved and 11,000 individual web addresses changed. It took 4,100 gallons of fresh paint and 10,000 yards of drapery to cover the House office walls involved in the transition. For a finishing touch, the CAO staff hung over 5,400 pictures and installed 15,000 florescent light tubes. Your next move may not seem so bad. (Data Source: RollCall)
Article I Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution reads... (January 2007)
�All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.� The Constitution goes on to create a structure where Congress operates in two year segments creating a first and second session. In 1789 Congress fulfilled its Constitutional obligation and convened the first session of the First Congress in New York City where it met until 1790. Congress met in Philadelphia, PA from 1790 until 1800. It was not until the first session of the Sixth Congress in 1800 that Congress met in Washington, DC.
Prior to the adoption of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, Congress convened its first session on March 4th of each odd-numbered year. After ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1934, Congress began to officially convene in January of each odd-numbered year. This continues to the present day.
All Politics is Local, But... (November 2006)
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas P. �Tip� O�Neill (Speaker 1977 � 1986) said, �All politics is local.� Nowhere is this more evident than across the country in the 435 House districts. Each member of the House represents an average of 646,952 people. In addition, each state is represented by two U.S. Senators. The composition of these two legislative bodies, although elected locally and representing limited geographic areas, has far-reaching implications.
Americans across the country went to the polls on November 6 to cast their votes for school board members, mayors, county commissioners, house members, senators and more. Hanging in the balance at the Federal level was control of the House and Senate. The party in the majority controls the rules and committee structures through which legislation is advanced. All politics starts out local, but in the end it has national and international implications. Did you take the time to vote in your local elections?
The Washington Monument (October 2006)
Washington, DC is a unique major U.S. city in many ways including the fact that it does not possess a large distinguished skyline. However, on July 4, 1848 a cornerstone was laid for what would become one of the most recognizable structures in the world, the Washington Monument.
Completed in 1885 for a total cost of $1,187,710, the monument stands at 555 feet 5 1/8 inches. It consists of 36,491 blocks. The outside of the monument is different shades of white due to the use of white marble from three separate quarries during the various stages of the monument�s construction. This is most evident 152 feet from the bottom where construction was halted due to insufficient funds and the Civil War. The base walls of the monument are 15 feet thick, while the walls at the observation level are 18 inches thick. The monument, which is open to the public for daily tours, is topped with a 3,300 pound capstone and a 8.9 inch tall, 100 ounce tip made of the rarest of medals at the time�aluminum.
An Inside View (September 2006)
Earlier this year the ACOI added to its staff an individual charged with tracking and monitoring Federal legislation and regulations impacting the practice of medicine and specific issues of importance to osteopathic internists, subspecialists and medical students. The foundation for the position was laid over 230 years ago (1787) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention, well before the ACOI was established in 1941. The Constitutional Convention consisted of 74 appointed delegates. Only 55 of the delegates regularly attended the sessions. Of these, 39 delegates signed the Constitution, 14 delegates departed for home prior to signing the founding document, and three delegates refused to sign. Nineteen delegates did not participate in a single session. Despite intense disagreements between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, in just under 100 working days a four page document containing 4,543 words and measuring 28 3/4 inches by 23 5/8 inches was crafted creating a government that has proven capable of withstanding the test of time. Since its ratification, the Constitution has been amended a mere 27 times with the last time occurring in 1992, limiting efforts to vary the compensation for U.S. Senators and Representatives.
The Constitution creates the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary branches of government in Articles I, II and III, respectively. Collectively and separately, these branches have the ability to impact the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care services. To this end, the ACOI will continue to monitor the activities of these branches of government created hundreds of years ago and will advocate on behalf of its membership.
Taking a Break (August 2006)
As temperatures climb to over 100 degrees here in Washington, Congress prepares for its annual August recess. This recess is grounded in both tradition and statute. For many years, Congress would try to conclude business in late spring before the oppressive heat and humidity of Washington, DC could take hold. However, increased work loads required additional time in Washington, thus making it more difficult to conclude business before the �dog-days� of summer.
During the 1800s and early 1900s numerous options were explored to improve the working environment for senators and representatives. An innovation by the Carrier Corporation in August of 1929 for the first time created �manufactured weather� in the Senate chambers�air conditioning found its way to the Hill. While this was a breakthrough, the system was still at times overwhelmed by the DC climate. The amount of time spent in Washington continued to grow. Congress approved the �Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970.� A small provision of this legislation requires that Congress recess for 30 days in August, unless it votes otherwise, during even-numbered years. The intent of this provision is to allow senators and house members a consistent opportunity to spend time with their families and constituents back home.
While the provision applied to even-numbered election years, the intent of the legislation has been honored in odd-numbered years as well. The Senate and House recessed on August 6, 1971 and returned on September 9 completing the first August recess to occur under the Act.
Happy Birthday, America!" (July 2006)
Each year on July 4 we celebrate the birth of a nation and the development of a document that laid the foundation for the growth of a democracy that has endured for over 230 years. While July 4 is a monumental date in history, it is one in a series of dates culminating in the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
In line with the tide of sentiment overtaking the colonies, the Virginia Convention passed a resolution on May 15, 1776 directing the Virginia delegates to the Continental Congress to propose a resolution declaring the United Colonies free and independent and absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed the resolution in Philadelphia on June 7, 1776. Prior to approving the Lee resolution, the Continental Congress recessed for three weeks and charged five delegates to prepare a statement to the world setting forth the case for independence. The statement was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and primarily edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. The Lee resolution was adopted on July 1, 1776 and the Continental Congress immediately proceeded to consideration of the Declaration.
Twelve of the thirteen colonies approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776 with New York abstaining. Not until July 9 was the Declaration approved by New York. Once approved by all thirteen colonies the document was engrossed and signatures were completed on August 2, 1776. The Declaration consists of 56 signatures arranged according to geographic region with the New Hampshire delegates first and the Georgia delegates last. Twenty-four copies of the original document are known to exist today. Seventeen are owned by American institutions, two by a British institution, and five by private owners. More information may be found by visiting the National Archives website at www.archives.gov.
The House Finds A Home (June 2006)
When one thinks of the nation�s capitol thoughts turn to an area south of Maryland now known as the District of Columbia. This was not always the case. Not until the signing of the �Residence Act� in 1791 by President George Washington and the ceding of land by the State of Maryland did the nation have a distinct capitol. Prior to the Act, Congress met in Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD, Lancaster, PA, York, PA, Princeton, NJ, Annapolis, MD, Trenton, NJ and New York City.
French engineer Pierre Charles L�Enfant designed the District of Columbia�s layout. When he came upon an area of land that rose 88 feet above the Potomac River called Jenkins� Hill he said it was ��a pedestal waiting for a monument.� Now known as Capitol Hill, the U.S. Capitol Building rests upon the pedestal envisioned by L�Enfant. Then Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson thought the design for the capitol building itself should be chosen through a design contest. The winner of the competition, Dr. William Thornton, a Scottish-trained physician, received $500 and a plot of land in the city for his design.
The Capitol, as it exists today, is the result of years of construction, reconstruction after a British attempt to torch it in 1814, and expansions through the 1960s. Today, the Capitol building has 540 rooms, is 751 feet long, 350 feet wide and rises 288 feet to the top of the 19 foot Statue of Freedom that rests atop the dome. A subterranean visitor�s center is under construction and when completed will be nearly three quarters the size of the Capitol itself.
American Osteopathic Associations� Hill Day (May 2006)
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides, �Congress shall make no law�abridging the freedom of speech, or press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.� From the earliest days of the United States, individuals such as shipwrights concerned about tariffs, merchants seeking to end taxation of molasses, and military officers seeking reimbursement for personal funds expended during the Revolution would petition their government. Railroads sought the assistance of the government in the 1800�s and the practice of �lobbying� took off. Senator Francis Warren (R-WY 1890 � 1893 and 1895 -1929) acknowledged the importance of lobbying and in defending the practice said, �I want facts to build up my arguments.� In continuation of a practice begun at the earliest days of our nation, over 815 osteopathic physicians and students converged on Capitol Hill on April 27, 2006 to lobby their elected officials as part of the American Osteopathic Associations� Hill Day. Throughout the day, participants from 45 states visited 90 Senate offices and 262 House offices to promote legislation to reform the medical liability system, to reform Medicare physician reimbursement rates and to promote graduate medical education, as well as other issues of importance to the medical profession. Osteopathic internists were well represented by ACOI President Frederick A. Schaller, DO, Immediate Past-President Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, Robert S. Juhasz, DO, Karen J. Nichols, DO, and many others. You may lobby year-round by contacting your elected officials on matters of importance to you today.
The Library of Congress (April 2006)
President John Adams signed legislation moving the federal government from Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC and appropriated $5,000 to establish the Library of Congress on April 24, 1800. The library was to serve as a reference library for the legislative body and was housed within the Capitol. British troops torched the Capitol and destroyed the contents of the library in 1814. Within one month, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered his private collection of 6,487 books to replace the library. Today, the Library of Congress is the largest library in the world with more than 130 million items occupying over 530 miles of bookshelves.