NJ Topics Congressional Caucuses And Coalitions

National Journal Coverage
Boehner and Cantor

House Republicans Say They Can Legislate and Investigate at the Same Time

Tim Alberta | May 19, 2013
House Republicans are pushing back against a prominent conservative group’s suggestion that congressional leaders should avoid scheduling potentially divisive votes which could shift the media spotlight away from the White House’s recent woes.
Food Stamps

Next Stops for Farm Bill: Senate and House Floors

Jerry Hagstrom | May 15, 2013
The House Agriculture Committee prides itself on bipartisanship, but when the panel met Wednesday to consider a new farm bill, the deep cultural divides between its Republican majority and Democratic minority members were in full relief.
Attorney General Holder Testifies On Justice Department FY2011 Budget

Eric Holder Offers Little Information, Much Ire for Republicans

Shane Goldmacher | May 15, 2013
It only took Attorney General Eric Holder a few moments to make clear he wanted no part of congressional Republicans’ plans to turn his Capitol Hill appearance into a serious grilling about the scandals of the day.
Peter Wehner, Yuval Levin, and James Capretta

Some Republicans Don’t Believe Austerity Is Enough

Nancy Cook | May 9, 2013
Strategists and wonks are urging House leaders to refocus their economic message on ideas that the middle class actually care about. 
Sen. Mike Lee Speaks at CPAC

Alliances Tested as Immigration Amendments Roll In

Rebecca Kaplan | May 7, 2013
Amendments to the Gang of Eight's bill were due by close of business Tuesday and already alliances are being tested among both members who support and those who oppose comprehensive immigration reform.    
Yvette Clarke, Charlie Rangel, Juamaane Williams

How Democrats Could Blow Immigration

Rebecca Kaplan | May 2, 2013
In their zeal to reach an agreement with Republicans, party strategists risk alienating the usually reliable Black Caucus. 
Rep. Bob Goodlatte Virginia Republican

Now the House Takes On Immigration

Fawn Johnson | April 25, 2013
The Senate got lots of attention for its Gang of Eight. Now the House is taking a crack at reform.
Steve Scalise

For House Republicans, It’s Fiscal First

Tim Alberta | April 23, 2013
If the fiscal fights that defined the opening act of the 113th Congress were supposed to suddenly take a backseat to other issues, someone forgot to tell House Republicans.
Gina Raimondo

In Rhode Island, A Battle for the Democratic Party's Future

Kevin Brennan | April 15, 2013
A budget-balancing Democrat could be the state's first female governor. But she's drawing opposition from unions, who prefer the Hispanic mayor of Providence.
Rand at Howard U.

Rand Paul Stumbled at Howard, but He’s Still Reaching Out to the Black Community

Elahe Izadi | April 12, 2013
The Kentucky Republican sits down with students at a Christian, historically black college in his home state.
Pat Toomey

House GOP Shrugs Off Senate Progress on Guns

Tim Alberta | April 11, 2013
In the four months since Newtown, conservative House Republicans have made a consistent case against passing any new gun-related laws.
President Obama's budget

A New Budget for a New Party

Ronald Brownstein | April 11, 2013
Obama's fiscal proposal aligns him with the politics of minority, millennial, and college-educated voters.
Raul Grijalva Keith Ellison

Progressives Fight Obama on Entitlements with Eye on 2014

Rebecca Kaplan | April 10, 2013
For progressive Democrats in Congress, a fight with President Obama over the inclusion of cuts to Social Security in his budget proposal may be just a warm-up for the real looming battle: the 2014 midterms.
Unemployment in DC

Has Obama Done Enough for Black Americans?

George E. Condon Jr. and Jim O’Sullivan | April 4, 2013
For many, this is still a land of unequal opportunity. A history-making president may not be enough. 
Newt Gingrich

For Newt Gingrich, a Future in Ideas

Rebecca Kaplan | April 4, 2013
The former House speaker wants to turn great ideas into bills, but from the outside.
Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann Faces Ethics Review

Shane Goldmacher | March 25, 2013
Investigators with the Office of Congressional Ethics are interviewing former aides to Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., about alleged campaign-finance violations, the Daily Beast reported.
ARRA sign

The One Word You Can't Say in Washington

Niraj Chokshi | March 21, 2013
Democrats agree on the need for stimulus. Just don't call it that.
Raul Labrador

Border Triggers Could Sink Immigration Deal

Fawn Johnson | March 21, 2013
Republicans' insistence that border-security benchmarks be met before legalizing 11-12 million illegal immigrants could sink the emerging compromise measure.
Reince Priebus

The GOP Disconnect on Economic Policy

Nancy Cook | March 20, 2013
The RNC may want to send a few extra copies of the election postmortem to Capitol Hill. Judging by the budget blueprints put forth by congressional Republicans, they didn’t get the memo.
Sen. Rand Paul

Why Rand Paul's Hispanic Pitch Is Doomed

Matthew Cooper | March 19, 2013
He's pushing the idea that Hispanics are natural Republicans. The polling says that's wrong.
Steve Scalise

House GOP Committee's New Budget Plan: Faster, Deeper Cuts

Tim Alberta and Nancy Cook | March 18, 2013
The Republican Study Committee's new plan balances the federal government in just 4 years, whereas Paul Ryan’s balances it in 10.
Michele Bachmann

What Happened to Michele Bachmann?

Tim Alberta | March 18, 2013
In the first two months of the 113th Congress Michele Bachmann has been practically invisible. What happened?
Derek Khanna

Freedom for Phones — and Their Owners

Brian Fung | March 14, 2013
Derek Khanna, pushed out of his job as a GOP researcher, led the drive to make it legal to unlock your mobile device.
130103_Bloom_8851

House Republican Pessimistic That Immigration Reform Will Pass

Rebecca Kaplan | March 14, 2013
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, sounded a downright pessimistic note on the prospects of comprehensive immigration reform during a panel on the subject at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Lindsey Graham

Why Lindsey Graham Isn't Acting Like a Worried Man

Jill Lawrence | March 7, 2013
Graham is balancing bipartisan outreach and praise for Obama with merciless critiques that could make him primary-proof in 2014.  
Apollo 17

Democrats Face Dilemma on High-Skilled Immigration Reform

Brian Fung | March 6, 2013
Since Congress’s last tussle to reform immigration, business leaders have raised concerns about a deficit of high-skilled workers. And that’s transforming how the immigration debate is playing out.
Apollo 17

Democrats' Dilemma on High-Skilled Immigration Reform

Brian Fung | March 6, 2013
For years, the phrase "immigration reform" meant two things for Republicans: a contest to see who could be toughest on the 11 million people living in the United States who aren't supposed to be, and a flood of proposals to fortify the nation's borders. For Democrats, it meant something else.
Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush's Real Immigration Problem

Jill Lawrence | March 5, 2013
Quite the awkward re-launch for a man considered a serious student of policy and a top GOP hope for 2016. 
US Mexico border fence

Will Immigration Hawks Ever Think the Border Is Secure Enough?

Molly Ball - The Atlantic | February 22, 2013
El Paso is the safest city in the U.S., the Border Patrol is bigger than ever, and illegal crossings have reached a 40-year low -- among other surprising facts.

On the Move

Christopher Snow Hopkins and Mike Magner | February 21, 2013
Angela Rye launches a new lobby shop, Impact Strategies. Domingo Herraiz is Motorola's new VP of North American government affairs. Campaign insider Tharon Johnson joins McKenna Long & Aldridge.

TABLE: House Conservative Scores by Issue Area

Peter Bell | February 21, 2013
For a more detailed look at how member voting records compared in 2012, use this table to find their vote ratings on economic, social, and foreign policy. Click on the column headings to sort the table and see who was the most and least conservative in those three areas.
Broun

Broun Logs Surprisingly Moderate Score in Vote Ratings

Sarah Mimms | February 21, 2013
Rep. Paul Broun stands out among his fellow Republicans in the Georgia delegation, many of whom are considering challenging him for Sen. Saxby Chambliss' seat in 2014. Broun was the first -- and so far only -- to announce a bid for the Senate. He has received perhaps the most national media attention, though the bulk of it has centered on his sometimes controversial rhetoric. And he is by far the least conservative, according to National Journal's 2012 Vote Ratings.
Steve King

Vote Ratings Show Large Gap Between King, Latham

Alex Brown | February 21, 2013
Rep. Steve King's "Todd Akin problem" isn't limited to potentially destructive soundbites.

Senate Candidate Lynch Rated Most Conservative Rep. in Mass.

Kevin Brennan | February 21, 2013
Since Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., launched his campaign last month for the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry, a common knock on his candidacy has been that he is too moderate to win a Democratic primary in a deep-blue state against his more liberal colleague, Rep. Edward Markey. 

How Conservative Is Your Congressman? — 2012 Vote Ratings

Brian McGill | February 21, 2013
Type in a representative's name to see where their votes fall on the partisan spectrum.
John Boehner

How the Vote Ratings Are Calculated

February 19, 2013
National Journal examined all of the roll-call votes in the second session of the 112th Congress and identified the ones that show ideological distinctions between members.
Votes

Key Votes Used to Calculate the Ratings

February 19, 2013
The 116 Senate votes and 116 House votes on which National Journal’s 2012 vote ratings are based.
State of the Union

Who Are the Most Liberal Representatives in Congress?

February 19, 2013
Fourteen House members are tied for the most left-leaning legislator, according to National Journal's 2012 vote ratings.
Barbara Lee

Vote Ratings: Black Caucus May Flex More Influence

Billy House | February 18, 2013
As Democrats prepare to flex what may be reinvigorated muscle this congressional session, the Congressional Black Caucus could be positioned to gain increased attention both from President Obama and congressional leaders.
Jesse Jackson Jr. and Jesse Jackson Sr.

Federal Charges Against Jesse Jackson Jr. End Dreams of a Dynasty

Jill Lawrence | February 15, 2013
Jesse Jackson Sr. and Jesse Jackson Jr. were building an African-American political dynasty with the White House in its sights. That dream ended with charges that Jackson Jr. illegally spent $750,000 in campaign funds for his own personal benefit.
Former Rep. Alan Grayson

Liberals in House Hatch Plans to ‘Bust the Chops’ of GOP

Billy House | February 14, 2013
Privately, the liberal Democrats behind an aggressive new legislative strategy targeting House Republicans are calling it “Operation Bust Their Chops.”
firing range

We'll Give You That Visa if We Can Keep Our Assault Weapons

Tim Alberta | February 14, 2013
House conservatives craft a message that allows them to get behind an immigration overhaul but block White House efforts to further regulate guns.
Kevin McCarthy

House GOP Works to Unite Coalition Prior to Fiscal Fight

Shane Goldmacher | February 13, 2013
Top aides to House Republican leaders are quietly holding closed-door meetings with influential conservative pressure groups in an effort to coalesce the party’s oft-opposed elements ahead of the coming fiscal fights.
Obama state of the union

Live Blogging the State of the Union Address

Niraj Chokshi and Brian Fung | February 12, 2013
10:40.Florida Senator Marco Rubio takes a break from delivering the Republican response to take a drink of water… 10:38. Rubio said that the economy shrank during the last three months of 2012. And, according to the government’s first read, it did. But first reads are almost always revised, a...
Health Care Monitors

Budget Office Predicts Rocky Start for Health Care Law

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 6, 2013
The Obama administration has been publicly upbeat about the coming rollout of its health care law, but the CBO takes a more pessimistic view.
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn

Congressional Black Caucus Pushes Clyburn for Transportation Secretary

Jim O'Sullivan | February 5, 2013
The Congressional Black Caucus is lobbying President Obama to name Assistant House Democratic Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C., as his new transportation secretary.
Dreamers

Opinion: We Need to End Our 'Natural Experiment' With Undocumented Children

Robert Courtney Smith | February 4, 2013
America and Congress now face a stark choice on immigration -- whether to continue the tragic “natural experiment” with a generation of children of immigrants, or to embark on a more inclusionary project that reflects American values. 

Insiders Optimistic About Immigration Reform

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | February 2, 2013
Cautious optimism: That's the best way to describe how both Democratic and Republican Political Insiders feel about the chances of comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship, passing Congress this year. A majority of Democrats and Republicans think it's either very or somewhat likely that such legislation passes in the 113th Congress, while only 3 percent of Democratic Insiders and 2 percent of the Republican Insiders say it's very unlikely. What is the likelihood of comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship, passing Congress this year?   Democrats (107 votes) Republicans (94 votes) Very likely 39% 25% Somewhat likely 50% 53% Somewhat unlikely 8% 20% Very unlikely 3% 2%
Yes We Can Obama Rally Grant Park

With New Support Base, Obama Doesn't Need Right-Leaning Whites Anymore

Ronald Brownstein | February 1, 2013
For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of the culturally conservative white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.
Barack Obama

Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites

Ronald Brownstein | January 31, 2013
For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of losing right-leaning white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.
Bob Menendez

How a Florida Doctor and Dominican Prostitutes Could Damage New Jersey Senator's Standing

Michael Catalini | January 30, 2013
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., finds himself facing embarrassing questions after FBI agents raided the home of a South Florida eye doctor who is a frequent campaign contributor to Menendez and other politicians.

Bloomberg Super PAC Airing TV Ad Against Halvorson

Alex Brown | January 29, 2013
Amid fears in some circles that former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Ill., could emerge from a crowded primary field as the Democratic nominee to replace former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in a special election this spring, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Independence USA PAC is out with a new ad highlighting her "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. "Debbie Halvorson -- when it comes to preventing gun violence, she gets an F," says the ad's voiceover.
Obama on immigration

Why Now Is the Right Time for Immigration Reform

Niraj Chokshi | January 29, 2013
It’s been years since the nation’s immigration system has been comprehensively reformed. Why would this time be any different?
Barack Obama on January 25, 2013

Expect Few Ultimatums in Obama Immigration Speech

Fawn Johnson and George E. Condon Jr. | January 29, 2013
President Obama will make no ultimatums in his immigration speech on Tuesday other than to insist that any legislation must be comprehensive, according to administration officials. 
Rio Grande

Why Obama Could Be the Biggest Obstacle to An Immigration Deal

Matthew Cooper | January 28, 2013
Sometimes stepping back and using soft power makes sense on Capitol Hill and in diplomacy. 
Honduran immigrant takes citizenship oath

Senators Group Drafts Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Rebecca Kaplan | January 28, 2013
A bipartisan group of senators has agreed on a framework for comprehensive immigration reform that will be announced Monday.
Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush Promoting Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Beth Reinhard | January 25, 2013
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, one of the most respected voices in the Republican Party and a potential presidential contender, rejects the “piecemeal” approach to immigration reform favored by some members of his party in a forthcoming book.
Tim Huelskamp

Momentum Builds for Boehner Plan but Trap Remains

Shane Goldmacher | January 22, 2013
John Boehner’s push to raise the debt limit temporarily is gaining momentum ahead of a critical Wednesday vote, but conservatives set a final hurdle: a more public promise of a 10-year balanced budget. 
Inauguration Photos from the Capitol

What Obama Wants and What Congress Will Give Him

Stacy Kaper and Rebecca Kaplan and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Margot Sanger-Katz and and Amy Harder contributed | January 21, 2013
How the president's vision fits with what Congress is likely to do.

Be It Dogged or Annoying, Office of Congressional Ethics Survives

Billy House | January 10, 2013
A legislative ambush that some feared was intended against the independent Office of Congressional Ethics did not occur last week. And backers of the sometimes controversial watchdog now say they are more confident it will be sticking around to help police congressional behavior, after all.
Congress

It's Not Just Partisanship That Divides Congress

Ronald Brownstein and Scott Bland | January 10, 2013
The same demographic trends that helped Republicans keep the House will hurt their shot at the presidency. And the trends that propelled Obama to reelection will impede Democrats from retaking the House. 
Platinum Coins

The $1 Trillion Platinum Coin Is As Good an Idea As FDR's Court-Packing

Matthew Cooper | January 4, 2013
A provocative idea has the Treasury secretary minting $1 trillion coins to pay off the debt. Ignore it.
Obama

President Obama’s 5 New Year's Resolutions

Sophie Quinton | December 31, 2012
President Obama may have won four more years in the White House, but he has a narrower window of opportunity to act on a domestic policy agenda. Here’s a list of five New Year's resolutions that Obama will have on his To Do list for 2013.
John Boehner

Could There Be a Coup Against Boehner?

Billy House | December 21, 2012
After his "Plan B" disaster, the speaker might want to look over his shoulder. 
Marc Veasey

Texas, 33rd House District: Marc Veasey (D)

November 6, 2012
Marc Veasey, the Democrat from the newly drawn 33rd District, has enjoyed a relatively smooth political ascent. Since his first campaign in 2004, he has won elections for state office with at least 90 percent of the vote and, despite a hard-fought primary in 2012, pulled away with an easy victory in the fall. Thanks to the district’s heavy Democratic leanings, the win made him a lock in the general election.
See More National Journal Coverage of Congressional caucuses and coalitions
Follow National Journal