High Energy Day on Capitol Hill - From Breakfast to Obama and Beyond
Last Thursday, Capitol Hill was buzzing with energy as lawmakers, lobbyists and tourists alike strode through the halls of congressional office buildings and the U.S. Capitol toward committee hearings, appointments and chance encounters with famous faces. Yes, AWMA’s annual Day on the Hill coincided with a particularly fast-paced day on the legislative agenda that had lawmakers racing back and forth to vote on numerous issues. Even Sen. Barack Obama made a rare return to Washington, DC to court uncommitted House lawmakers/superdelegates.
The presidential candidate made an unannounced visit to the House floor, trailed by a throng of well-wishers and journalists, sparking much excitement. Patrick and Sandra Carrico, Richmond Master Distributors, South Bend, Indiana, were enjoying a walk through the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) when they witnessed the commotion.
Throughout the day, bells signaled upcoming votes and lawmakers rushed through the halls. Thanks to cable television in all the congressional offices, AWMA members could follow the action on the Senate and House floors while waiting for appointments.
Much of the day in the House of Representatives was taken up with war funding and mortgage crisis debates. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi postponed consideration of a bill that would continue funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan after a group of 47 fiscally conservative Democrats – “Blue Dog Democrats” – strenuously objected to the creation of new programs without the necessary funding through spending cuts or tax increases to pay for them.
“We have a duty as a country to tend to (returning soldiers). But we also have a duty as a country to pay for them,” said Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL), a leader of the Blue Dog coalition.
The House of Representatives approved a mortgage bill to rescue hundreds of thousands of homeowners on the verge of foreclosure, this despite GOP House leaders who blasted the bill as a bailout for speculators and irresponsible borrowers. In the end, 39 House Republicans joined the Democrats to pass the legislation.
“People are in a world of hurt. My sense is there’s maneuvering room,” said Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), who voted for the bill despite the White House veto threat. “There’s still a good chance they’ll get a bill the president can sign, knowing that a lot of the country needs help.”
Congress’s heavy schedule, combined with mounting pressure to pass legislation before the Memorial Day recess, left little down time for legislators and their staffs. Still, AWMA members found that elected officials made a sincere effort to meet with them personally or have top aides meet to discuss the issues so crucial to our industry.
Once again, AWMA’s Day on the Hill demonstrates the importance of citizen involvement in the lawmaking process even – especially – in a presidential election year.
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