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Congress OKs $1.3 trillion budget, averting another shutdown

Mar 23, 2018
But an unusual glitch arose when Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, wanted to remove a provision to rename a forest in his home state.
Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images

House backs temporary spending bill to avert a shutdown

Dec 21, 2017
The wrap-up measure allows Republicans controlling Washington to savor their tax-package win this week.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Rep. Michelle Lynn Lujan Grisham (D-NM) participate in a House Rules Committee meeting as negotiations continue on funding the government to avert a shutdown at midnight on Friday night, at the U.S. Capitol on December 21, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Congress has fewer people helping them than they used to

Jun 19, 2017
Rank-and-file House members have smaller staffs and fewer experts to turn to.
"Ordinary lawmakers are pressed for time, and often they find themselves out of their depth no matter how smart they are or how experienced they are," says Max Ehrenfreund, a Washington Post writer.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Weekly Wrap: the House, Fed minutes and the TPP

Oct 9, 2015
Catherine Rampell and John Carney join Kai Ryssdal to recap the week that was.

What congressional uncertainty means for the economy

Oct 8, 2015
The race for speaker comes at a time of budget and debt-limit decisions.