Influence Alley

Republicans have made it clear. They are looking for a pound of flesh in the form of spending cuts in exchange for solving the next fiscal-crisis-in-waiting -- the debt ceiling. And while some aides might whisper about blocking a Treasury nominee to gain leverage, the GOP won't win on the debt ceiling -- even optically -- by employing that tactic.

The National Restaurant Association picks former Senate aide as its new vice president of government affairs. Matt Walker will lead the group’s advocacy efforts in the Senate.

Rep. Tim Huelskamp -- one of the nine House conservatives who voted to replace the House speaker only to see the rebellion fail on the floor –- is pleading for supporters to send “emergency” contributions to his campaign committee, saying “Washington insiders are coming after me.”

A political nonprofit that sprouted to solicit cash to defend Chuck Hagel in his bid for Defense secretary is already folding up shop.

So, this was the big House conservative rebellion that has been plotted for several weeks against John Boehner? C’mon. It was more like one of those clown guns that only shoots out a flag that says, “Bang!”

The battle to get Congress to renew the wind-energy production tax credit before year’s end strained relationships among utilities, splintered support within the industry’s biggest trade group, and is setting up the industry—and its supporters in Congress—for a 2013 that's even more contentious than 2012.

Moody’s Investor Service warned Washington Wednesday not to rest on its haunches after its New Year’s Day passage of legislation to avert the fiscal cliff, arguing more work must be done to meaningfully lower the U.S. debt trajectory and prevent the risk of a downgrade of the U.S. debt.

Early this morning, 89 senators voted for a fiscal cliff deal brokered between Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democratic Sen. Tom Carper was not one of those senators.

A last-ditch deal to spare Americans from big tax increases in the new year that seemed in danger of falling apart earlier today has a renewed chance to make it to the president's desk.

Sure, it’s up to House Republicans as to whether the fiscal cliff deal brokered between Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is put on the House floor for an up or down vote. But as with any compromise, no side is thrilled with the fiscal cliff deal, and House Democrats aren’t exactly giddy over the details.

Senate Republicans hope to vote Monday night on a package to avert the fiscal cliff, according to members leaving an evening caucus meeting.

The federal government reached its borrowing limit on Monday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner wrote in a letter to congressional leaders.

House Republicans emerged Monday night from a closed-door meeting with Speaker John Boehner, saying they’d been given no details of the potential deal, but were told not to stray far from the Capitol for the rest of New Year’s Eve.

Lillian Miles Lewis, the wife of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., died today in Atlanta, according to the congressman’s office.

It’s New Year’s Eve, the countdown to the fiscal cliff is on, and the message from lawmakers is a collective "Let’s see what happens."