Blog - Congress Links

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)