ICYMI: Top reads on Congress

Katherine Tully-McManus, “Should Congress spend more on itself to avoid deterioration?” Roll Call:

“Civil society groups and former lawmakers are calling on appropriators to boost funding for Congress itself to stem what they call a “significant loss of institutional capacity.”

Molly E. Reynolds, “Reforming Congress: Historical trends in congressional staffing,” Brookings:

“On March 27, 2019, Brookings Senior Fellow Molly Reynolds testified before the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress in a hearing titled “Congressional Reforms of the Past and Their Effect on Today’s Congress.” Reynolds used her testimony to brief lawmakers on the history of congressional staffing trends and the political context of previous staffing reform efforts.”

Katherine Tully-McManus, “House approves committee funds; largest boost for House Ethics panel,” Roll Call:

“The House on Tuesday approved funding levels for committee activities in the 116th Congress, providing the largest boost to the House Ethics Committee. The resolution was agreed to by unanimous consent and authorizes funding for all of the standing and select committee in the House, excluding the Appropriations Committee.”

Katherine Tully-McManus, “Library of Congress and Architect of the Capitol both request 2020 funding boosts,” Roll Call:

“Senate appropriators dug into budget requests from the Architect of the Capitol and Library of Congress on Wednesday at the Legislative Branch subcommittee, with both agencies seeking increases for fiscal 2020.”

CNN, “App tells you when US House of Representatives is voting,” WTOP:

“For more than a century, bells have been used in the Capitol to alert lawmakers when it’s time to vote. It’s a system that still operates in present day with loud buzzing sounds indicating not only the time, but the type of activity in the House chamber. And these days, there’s also an app for that.”

Lindsey McPherson, “House Republicans dig out another procedural tool to pressure Democrats,” Roll Call:

“House Republicans, boosted by some early procedural wins this Congress, are planning to try out another tool available to the minority to put pressure on Democrats — the discharge petition.”

Melanie Zanona and Sarah Ferris, “‘Now we’re in charge’: Dems freeze out GOP on bipartisan bills,” Politico:

“Hudson is among several frustrated Republicans who have lashed out at their Democratic colleagues in recent days, arguing that Democrats have shut them out of the legislative process by refusing to work cooperatively on bills — including some they once co-authored.”

Avery Anapol, “Dem lawmaker calls out ‘archaic’ sexism in Congress,” The Hill:

“Freshman Democratic Rep. Katie Hill (Calif.) is calling out what she calls “archaic” sexism still present in the halls of Congress. In an interview with Washington Post publication The Lily, Hill described an interaction with a male colleague she said made a sexist comment.”

Katherine Tully-McManus, “Senators want help securing the personal phones of members and staff,” Roll Call:

“Two Senate Intelligence Committee members introduced a bill Wednesday to protect both personal electronic devices and Senate accounts of members and staff from cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats.”

Carl Hulse, “Frustrated Democrats Intensify Demand for Big Institutional Changes,” New York Times:

“Still seething over Republican obstruction during the Obama administration that peaked in 2016 with the blockade against the Supreme Court nominee Merrick B. Garland, liberal groups are encouraging Democrats running for president and the Senate to commit to enlarging the court and scuttling the Senate’s famous procedural weapon.”