The hottest Legislation Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

FIVE POINTS: Your Thanksgiving Briefing Book

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Nov 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. When talking politics at Thanksgiving, focus on safe topics like local politics or education to avoid arguments. Prepare a bit beforehand to steer the conversation in a good direction.
  2. The upcoming tax bill has challenges as popular support is dropping and some Republicans are unhappy with the current plan. There’s urgency to pass something, but it might end up being a simpler tax cut rather than a major reform.
  3. The budget process is influencing a lot of what Congress is doing now, and both parties need to negotiate carefully to avoid a government shutdown. Changes in spending caps will likely be part of the discussions as they try to come to agreements.

FIVE POINTS: Frosted Flakes of Scorn

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Passing a congressional budget resolution isn't that big of a deal. It sets some spending limits, but it doesn't actually cut spending or guarantee any laws will pass.
  2. The work environment in Congress can be tough for young women, highlighting the need to address sexual harassment issues in that unique culture.
  3. Senator Jeff Flake is well-liked for his kindness and politeness. Even though he's stepping down, many will miss his respectful approach to politics.

FIVE POINTS: Popular does not equal good

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Oct 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's actually good. Many people like things for different reasons that don't reflect their quality.
  2. When Congress gets less input from members, it can lead to poor laws and less effective work. It's important for everyone to have a say in making rules.
  3. With a closely divided House, leaders might struggle to maintain control and this could cause problems for passing laws. Smaller groups can create a lot of challenges.

FIVE POINTS: You Can't Always Get What You Want

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The idea that a president has complete control over the executive branch is a myth. In reality, they often have to work hard to get their policies implemented, and Trump's administration has struggled with this.
  2. Being smart isn't enough to succeed in politics. Leadership and the ability to connect with people matter much more than having high intelligence.
  3. Changing the judiciary takes time and can't happen overnight. Even if Trump gets a few judges confirmed, truly reshaping the federal courts typically requires much longer than two years.

FIVE POINTS: Rex-N-Effect, Trump Shaker

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The president is struggling with weak approval ratings and low influence, making it hard for him to push his agenda or get support from his cabinet.
  2. Gun control advocates might face disappointment as Congress may soon ban bump stocks, but this action won't significantly reduce gun violence.
  3. Working in Congress can be tough due to long hours and low pay, but many staffers enjoy the work because they feel they can make a real difference.
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FIVE POINTS: The Most and Least Vulnerable Politicians

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Having a 'safe seat' doesn’t completely protect politicians from challenges, especially from party primaries. They still have to worry about losing to a fellow party member.
  2. Retiring politicians often make bolder decisions since they no longer fear losing their seat. This can allow them to vote differently or criticize their party without worry.
  3. The budget resolution is crucial for moving forward on tax reform. It sets spending limits and priorities, so Congress will have to work carefully to agree on it.

FIVE POINTS: Groundhog Day in the Senate

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The September 30th deadline is significant for the Graham-Cassidy bill, but it doesn't fully block repeal efforts. The Senate can still try to pass other legislation, but it may complicate future initiatives like tax reform.
  2. Getting the Graham-Cassidy bill approved in the House might be challenging. Many House Republicans are in difficult positions regarding their votes, especially those from states that would lose under this proposal.
  3. Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. and deserves equal support in disasters. It's important for Americans to understand that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and should receive the same aid as those in other states during emergencies.

FIVE POINTS: Make DACA Great Again

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Trump's new DACA position could be popular but might also upset his Republican supporters. This situation may weaken his ties with the GOP even if the public likes the idea.
  2. Just because a policy is popular doesn't mean it will boost a politician's approval. It's important to know how many people actually change their opinion based on that policy.
  3. The House Freedom Caucus might reflect a historical trend of factions within political parties. They're working outside normal party lines to push their agenda.

FIVE POINTS: December is the New September

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The recent deal on hurricane relief and the debt limit has many political angles, with discussions on its impact on upcoming tax reform and GOP dynamics.
  2. Two moderate Republicans announced their retirement, but it's important not to overreact as this doesn't necessarily signal a major trend for the party as a whole.
  3. Approval for discharge petitions is rare due to risks for members of the majority, meaning lawmakers often find other ways to express their support without directly challenging leadership.

FIVE POINTS: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 31 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. A shift to bipartisan negotiations means Congress is moving away from sharp party lines. This kind of negotiation can help bridge gaps but also brings new challenges and demands from different political groups.
  2. There are key must-pass items coming up, like the debt limit and appropriations. These need to be handled carefully to avoid major political clashes, and there's a chance they could create an easier deal for all involved.
  3. The White House is struggling to control the political agenda due to various external events and internal mismanagement. This has made it hard for them to stay focused and effectively promote their policies.

FIVE POINTS: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. In September, Congress will be discussing critical issues that could impact American politics, including raising the debt limit and government funding.
  2. President Trump's approach to legislation seems risky, as he publicly criticizes party members instead of working with them to achieve goals.
  3. During natural disasters, presidents often struggle to be effective leaders because they can't engage directly at the local level like a mayor can.

Summer Break Finally Hits Capitol Hill

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Congress is going into a break after some tough political battles. Some GOP members may face less backlash for not passing health care reforms because they didn't take away people's coverage.
  2. There's a big list of things Congress needs to deal with when they return, like the budget and tax reforms. They'll need to negotiate with each other to get things done since they rely on both parties for support.
  3. People were misled about the Senate's agreement to block Trump from making recess appointments. It seemed like a big deal, but routine procedures were likely just used to simplify the process, showing how complicated Senate rules can be.

Musical Chairs: The Most Fascinating Institutional Process in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 13
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The selection process for committee chairs in Congress is not just based on seniority, but involves strategic nominations and politics. Members must navigate various factors that influence their chances of being selected.
  2. Democrats in the House use a unique bidding system for subcommittee assignments. Members can protect or pitch their current positions, leading to strategic choices that affect their role and influence.
  3. The Appropriations Committee has its own set of rules that differ from other committees, focusing on subcommittee seniority instead of full committee seniority. This creates distinctive strategies and implications for members vying for valuable positions.

Summer of '64

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. In the 1964 Civil Rights Act vote, geography played a big role in how members of Congress voted. Northern Democrats were more supportive, while Southern Democrats and Republicans had very little support.
  2. The intensity of support for civil rights varied among party members. Northern Democrats were the strongest advocates, while the Republicans had mixed support, often not pushing for civil rights despite some members voting for it.
  3. Party labels don’t define who supported civil rights; individual actions mattered more. Some heroes and villains in the civil rights movement existed in both parties, and it’s important to focus on their contributions instead of just party affiliations.

Perks

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 28 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Members of Congress have to pay Social Security and do not receive free health care; their benefits are similar to other federal employees.
  2. Many perks that were once available to Congress members, like free ice delivery or tax help, have been eliminated due to reforms over the years.
  3. Members can still send mail and travel, but now they have budgets for those expenses, which makes them more careful with spending compared to the past.

How's your 302(b) looking? Strong...to quite strong

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The congressional budget process is complicated but important. It involves planning for the next fiscal year's budget, and the President has to submit a budget to Congress each February.
  2. 302(b) allocations divide spending among subcommittees and set limits on how much each can spend. This means subcommittees can't really cut overall spending and instead fight for larger shares of the same budget pie.
  3. Changes in the budget process have shifted responsibility for controlling spending from the Appropriations Committee to the Budget Committee. This has affected how subcommittees operate and strategize for their funding requests.

Wonk n' roll: committee funding in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. House committees get their money from appropriations, similar to how individual Members do, but committees don't have their own separate bank accounts.
  2. Each committee submits a budget request to House Administration, and while the chairman controls the budget, there's an agreement that the minority gets a share of the funding.
  3. The number of committee staff can vary based on political needs and priorities, and while more staff can help balance power with lobbyists and the executive branch, it also depends on how strong you think the committee system should be.

Wonk Time: Increase the MRA in the House?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Congress members have a budget called the Member's Representational Allowance (MRA) to pay for staff, travel, and office expenses. This budget is determined by distance from Washington, cost of living, and the number of voters in their district.
  2. Currently, each member has about $1.4 million to $1.5 million for these expenses, which is significantly less than the $20 million suggested for better staffing. Many representatives are hesitant to increase their budgets due to political pressures from voters.
  3. Increasing staff budgets could help Congress function better, but it's hard to achieve because voters generally don't support higher spending for their representatives or their staff. Any change would likely need to be subtle and carefully managed.

Sad Tuesday

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. When a Representative dies, the Clerk of the House takes over their duties and the office continues functioning until a new Representative is elected.
  2. The deceased Representative's family receives financial benefits, including salary payments and a death gratuity.
  3. The House adjusts its total number of Members, and a special election is called to fill the vacant seat left by the Representative's passing.

Fasten your wonk belt: let's talk filling the tree in the Senate

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. In the Senate, any senator can propose amendments to a bill, which means a lot of ideas can be discussed, even if they are not directly related to the bill. This makes the Senate a place for open debate.
  2. Filling the tree is a process where the majority leader can limit the amendments that can be made to a bill, essentially blocking others from changing the proposed legislation. This can help the majority pass their ideas without unwanted changes.
  3. The House of Representatives has stricter rules that allow the majority to control the amendments more tightly, which some say limits true democratic discussion. In this sense, the Senate has more room for debate compared to the House.

Polarization and the filibuster

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The system of government is designed to prevent majority rule, which can sometimes hinder consensus. There are many features, like the filibuster, that make it harder for one party to dominate policy-making.
  2. People often focus on the filibuster as the main reason for legislative gridlock, but it might not be as crucial as other factors. Even without it, there can still be significant barriers to passing laws.
  3. Removing the filibuster won't necessarily lead to more compromise. Instead, it could change how power operates in Congress without improving representation or leading to better decision-making.

Legislative realities and Senators as presidential candidates

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Senators often struggle in presidential runs because past votes can haunt them, especially if those votes are no longer popular.
  2. When running for president, a Senator's previous constituency may not match the national electorate, making it hard to appeal to voters.
  3. Legislators often have to compromise to get things done, which can conflict with voter expectations about steadfast principles.

Thy Rod and Thy Staff

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. There are over 30,000 people working in the legislative branch of the federal government. This number is small compared to the total of about 2.75 million employees in the executive branch.
  2. Members of Congress can hire their staff in various roles, but they have to follow certain rules and budget constraints. Each Representative can hire a maximum of 18 permanent staff members.
  3. In recent years, the number of staff working for congressional leadership has increased significantly, while the number of committee staff has actually decreased.

King's pawn opening

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Being the first to propose an idea helps you influence others. If you share your plan early, people are more likely to agree with you before they even think of alternatives.
  2. Once a group agrees on something, it’s hard for them to change their minds. Even if people might prefer another option, they will often stick with the first idea because it's already been accepted.
  3. People who didn’t propose the idea will focus on making small changes instead of suggesting a new plan. This means that the original proposer still holds significant control over the main idea.

Turnover

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. High staff turnover can affect the efficiency of congressional offices, but it's not always as serious as it seems. Many staffers move between offices, which can mean they still have valuable experience.
  2. The study on turnover is affected by unique situations, like the 2010 election when many staffers changed jobs because of a big shakeup. This makes the data a bit tricky to interpret.
  3. Spending more on staff salaries doesn't automatically make offices better at representing their constituents. Each office has a budget that also covers things like supplies and communications.

Required Reading

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 01 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Members of Congress sometimes don't know what's in the bills they vote on. This concern has led to proposals for them to certify that they've read the bills.
  2. Legislation is often complex and requires precise language, which makes it hard to understand without help. That's why bills usually come with committee reports explaining them in simpler terms.
  3. Many bills reference existing laws to make their intentions clear. This can create a complicated web of legal references that makes understanding the new law difficult.

Friday Procedure Blogging: Adjournment vs. Recess

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. A recess is a short break where the Senate can come back to business right where it left off, while an adjournment means the Senate officially ends its business for the day and starts fresh when it meets again.
  2. The difference between these terms can affect how the Senate operates. For example, in a recess, Senators can only speak a limited number of times, while a new legislative day after an adjournment allows for different rules.
  3. Senate leaders choose between recess and adjournment based on strategy, like avoiding lengthy debates or regaining control when things get chaotic.

Man on the Moon

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Newt Gingrich proposed building a permanent base on the moon, reflecting ongoing interest in space colonization. This idea goes back to his 1981 legislation about space territories.
  2. The process of granting statehood has historically faced numerous complications, largely due to Congress having too much discretion without clear rules. This caused political challenges and tensions in the past.
  3. Gingrich's plan for moon statehood shares problems with earlier proposals. It lacks constitutional backing, leaving room for Congress to change the rules easily later on.

Resigned but Not Forgotten

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Resigning from the House of Representatives involves writing a formal letter to both the state governor and the House, notifying them of the decision. This ensures that the resignation is official and follows proper procedures.
  2. When a Representative resigns, it creates a vacancy that allows the state to hold special elections to fill the position. This process is important to keep the House fully represented.
  3. The resignation also affects the total number of members in the House. When someone resigns, the official count of the House changes, which can impact voting and quorum requirements.

Like this and like that and like this and uh

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The rise of Newt Gingrich in politics might not be as strong as people think. It could be better to invest in other candidates like Mitt Romney instead.
  2. Discussions about whether the Civil War could have been avoided with compensated emancipation often miss the long-term strategies of both sides. It wasn’t just a money issue; it was about political power and strategy.
  3. To make the Super Bowl more exciting, it should be held at the home stadium of one of the teams instead of a neutral site. This way, the atmosphere would be more electric and the weather could add to the game's drama.

Day One?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Presidential candidates often make big promises for their first day in office, but the actual execution can be complicated by factors like inauguration falling on a Sunday.
  2. Historically, inaugurations have faced challenges due to timing and the need for a new president to take the oath of office legally.
  3. The implementation of the 20th amendment ensures clearer rules about inauguration timing, preventing gaps in presidential authority.

Dawn of a New Era

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Protests like going dark can grab attention and get people to call their representatives, showing the political power of the Internet. However, it's possible this could lead to more government regulation of the Internet.
  2. Websites taking direct action, like shutting down, can change how people view them and their influence. If they use their power in politics, they could face strong government responses.
  3. It's important to be cautious when exercising power online. The more websites act like political players, the more likely they are to be treated as such, which could lead to unwanted regulation.

North vs. South (side of the Capitol, that is)

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 21 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Representatives serve shorter terms and pay closer attention to the immediate needs of their constituents. Senators have longer terms, so they can focus on long-term issues without the pressure of frequent elections.
  2. The rules and structures of the House and Senate are different, leading to different power dynamics. The House allows majority rule, while the Senate requires more consensus for decisions, creating potential conflicts.
  3. Voters may have different expectations for their Representatives and Senators. This can affect how each chamber approaches policy decisions and negotiations with each other.

Some Quick-hit House Floor Notes

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The House adopted a special rule to handle the payroll tax bill, allowing quicker action on legislation before the new session starts. This gives them more flexibility to respond to deals quickly.
  2. There was a debate about the House's procedure for rejecting Senate amendments, with some people feeling frustrated but others pointing out it was a normal way to handle things.
  3. A resolution disapproving of comments made by a Representative was tabled quickly, showing how some discussions can get cut off in the House.

Tie Goes to the...

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. An electoral college tie could lead to a situation where the House of Representatives picks the President. This means that any qualified candidate could potentially become President if there’s a tie.
  2. Electors could strategically decide to vote for a third candidate to create a three-way race, leading to unexpected outcomes. This could be a way for some candidates to gain advantages depending on their party's control.
  3. The idea of electors shedding their votes creates a chaotic election scenario, where almost anyone could become President, making the whole process quite uncertain and unpredictable.

Fasten your wonk belts: let's talk rule layover waivers in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. In the House, new bills can't be voted on the same day they're introduced. Usually, they need to wait one legislative day, but there are special rules to speed things up.
  2. The Rules Committee plays a big role in deciding which bills come to the floor and how they're discussed. They can create special rules that allow for quick consideration and limit debate.
  3. Special rules are common in the House and can waive many usual procedural requirements. This allows the majority party to manage legislation more flexibly.

On Supercommittees and Blooming

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The proposal allows certain bipartisan legislation to skip filibusters and amendments for faster voting. This is meant to encourage more collaboration between political parties.
  2. There's a concern that the requirement for bipartisan support may favor Republican ideas over Democratic ones. Democrats would need more votes to pass their proposals than Republicans would.
  3. The likelihood of passing a moderate bipartisan bill under this plan seems low, as it may lead to passing more conservative legislation instead.

Hardball and HARDBALL

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The Senate operates largely on norms, but these norms are being pushed aside for strict adherence to rules, which can lead to short-term wins but long-term consequences.
  2. As individual Senators aim for their goals, they often avoid playing absolute hardball since it could harm their future ambitions and cooperation with others.
  3. Changing Senate rules can only happen through extreme measures, and while hardball tactics are causing concern, they might also lead to solutions by forcing necessary changes.

Making Payroll

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. The payroll tax cut should stay focused on helping the American people, without getting mixed up in other political issues. If lawmakers complicate it too much, it might not go through.
  2. It’s surprising to see Democrats supporting payroll tax cuts now. In the past, they would have been concerned that it could hurt Social Security, but opinions seem to be changing.
  3. Bringing the payroll tax back to its old rates is unlikely because many people depend on it as their only federal tax. Raising it again could feel like a big burden for those who have the least.

Filibusters and Cloture

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation
  1. Filibusters are tricky to measure because not all of them get recorded, and political decisions can change how many cloture votes are taken. This makes it hard to see the true level of obstruction in the Senate.
  2. Using the number of failed cloture votes as proof of filibusters isn't foolproof. Sometimes, votes fail not because of obstruction but due to party preferences.
  3. The number of filibusters isn't the only important thing; the overall size of the legislative agenda matters too. More legislation can mean more chances for filibusters, even if the percentage of filibustered items goes down.