June 2011
1 post
1 tag
"Introducing POPVOX" - Nevada Rural Democratic... →
January 2011
2 posts
9 tags
The Hill 101: What do the buzzers mean? -... →
The Hill 101: What do the buzzers mean?
by marci on January 7, 2011
You can usually tell if someone is new to the Hill by whether they flinch or even break pace in conversation when the buzzers for votes start going. The
real
pros can tell you what the buzzers mean. For new staff, Members and visitors to Capitol Hill, we thought a POPVOX primer was in order:
For...
4 tags
iPads on the House Floor Mean Better Information... →
by marci on January 1, 2011
I generally enjoy the down-to-earth wisdom of Ruth Marcus at the Washington Post, but strongly disagree with her latest
article
bemoaning
new rules
proposed by the incoming House Republican Majority to allow iPads and other devices on the House Floor.
If Ms. Marcus had been on the House Floor recently she would know that, except...
December 2010
3 posts
2 tags
What Happens to Bills After Congress Adjourns? -... →
The curtain will soon fall on the 111th Congress and flights out of DC will soon be packed to the gills (though some have already headed ou t, it seems ) . The House and Senate will soon adjourn “ sine die,” or “without day,” and not reconvene until the new Congress starts on January 5, 2011.
What about bills that never came to a vote in the 111th Congress? The slate is wiped...
2 tags
POPVOX - The Tax Cut Extension: (Or, "the Senate... →
Looking to weigh in on the Extension of the Bush Tax Cut (3,790,000 results on Google) or the “ Middle Class Tax Relief ” bill (only 570,000) and having trouble? There is a good reason for that. The bill you are looking for is H.R. 4853 , which was originally entitled “the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010.”
That bill was introduced in March by the...
4 tags
What does it mean when a bill is "blue-slipped" →
Roll Call
reports
that the Food Safety Legislation that passed the Senate on November 30 may be “blue-slipped” by the House because its Section 107 contains “some fees that are classified as revenue-raisers.”
Since that bill has received a lot of
attention
from POPVOX users, it seemed like a good time to explain exactly what “blue slipping” means. Short version: any bill with a...
November 2010
1 post
7 tags
Members of Congress only want to hear from... →
Members of Congress only want to hear from constituents (no one else.)
This is one of the first, most important rules of legislative advocacy. If you have an opinion to share, a request to make, or a question to ask, address
your
Representative or Senator.
For many individuals, this can sometimes be frustrating, especially if their own Member does not share their view or...
