Eight Weeks Before Next Recess

But who's counting? We're back in session, and already had a vote on the floor on the foreclosure issue that I was monitoring. Waiting to see if the Senate could vote to invoke cloture (which they did to our surprise, 98-1) pending a compromise bill (being worked on as they voted). Differing needs of bankers, homeowners losing their homes to foreclosure, mortgage servicers, etc. On the one hand, the Republicans didn't want to prop up investors making risky choices; on the other hand, the Democrats remarked that they bailed out Bear Stearns... The negotiating is fascinating - one truly needs to know the issues, look at the larger context, understand the process, and be willing to play "hardball" - as much of this seems to be who blinks first before a compromise.

Two firsts: "dropped" a bill! Literally, that just means walking over to the Senate Democratic cloak room (no cloaks, just some chairs, desk and telephones to talk with Senators who might be in the Senate floor) and handing the staffer the draft bill (two pages, with the Senator's frank - signature from the machine - on the top and staff contact names and phone numbers on the back (including mine!). I called the Senate clerk's office less than one hour later and had the bill number. While I was there, two other office staffers handed in their bills, too. Many bills "dropped" (the House side actually has a hopper to drop the bills into, on the House floor, I believe), very few actually released from committee, fewer still come to a full vote once released from committee, even fewer are passed and are agreed to on the House side and signed by the President. While I don't think this bill will be one of those, it does contribute to the dialogue on the issue. Incremental change.

Since the Senate was in session while I was in the Capitol, I slipped over to the cheap seats and sat in the gallery for a brief time. Stunning room, lots of blue on the walls, busts (of past Senators?) along the wall and an etched glass Senate emblem on the ceiling. One Senator had the floor (talking at the podium), Senator Brown (RI) was presiding, and staff surrounded him on the floor a slight level below. After a few minutes, Senator Mikulski (MD) took over the presiding duties. At this time, since there was no vote scheduled, there were more spectators than Senators and staff in the room.

Had an opportunity to speak with a group of CDC officials being trained on Congressional process. I believe the hope is to increase their efficacy in understanding and working with legislative staff. Public health needs a stronger, clearer voice with federal legislators to encourage "upstream" thinking for prevention rather than treatment, and planning for public health to get to the cost:benefit of early intervention. Health doesn't equal medicine, but it's hard to see that from the categories and legislative initiatives thus far.

More constituent visits, more photo ops, more meeting summaries. And this week: Public Health Week and Climate Change. Lots planned...

70 degrees! Dashed home, hopped on the bike, and returned to the Tidal Basin to enjoy the cherry trees in bloom, now fragrant in the breeze. Still crowded, but not as crazy as the weekend, and found my way through East and West Potomac Park again, along a previously undiscovered path along the river past the Kennedy Center, and home a much easier way. This could be a better way of getting to the park for early morning biking. I'm starting to feel as if I really live here!