The 111th Begins -- And So Do I
Today marks the official start of the new Congress as well as my official start here at TPM. It's an honor to join the team as its Capitol Hill eyes and ears -- and with this many storylines unfolding before most members come back to town, there should be no shortage of things to talk about.
Any questions/suggestions/inspirational sayings to guide TPM's congressional coverage? My email is elana (at) talkingpointsmemo.com.
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Hi, as a former congressional staffer, I'd suggest keeping tabs on CongressDailyWatch, The Hill, the Roll Call, and CQPolitics. Also, the National Journal is a great read.
I think that CQ has a New Member book of all the new faces coming into the 111th Congress, so that may be helpful to look at if any of the new members make "waves" in policy issues, or so to speak.
And definitely attend mixers and cocktail receptions on the Hill for some fun reports from lawmakers (that get inebriated on the free drinks and stuffed on tiny cocktails). You should try the City of Houston reception, as that's one of the most popular "congressional" reception on the Hill.
January 5, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to the lions den. Prepare to have your words looked at with a magnifying glass for any evidence GOP spin.
January 5, 2009 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome Elana.
No suggestion but I like your name.
January 5, 2009 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I note in a story by WSJ the following:
"Business lobbyists are pushing hard for Congress to allow companies that haven't paid corporate income taxes to get a break, too. Start-up companies, alternative-energy firms and large corporations that have been swallowing losses for years -- such as automotive and steel companies and some airlines -- have already begun lobbying for such "refundability."
They argue that a provision to claim losses on back taxes will have little effect on the economy if firms that need it most -- struggling companies that weren't obligated to pay any taxes -- can't benefit from a tax break.
Mr. Obama, however, doesn't back payments to companies that haven't paid taxes, aides said. Instead, businesses that haven't been paying taxes would be able to get payments from tax credits they would have taken in 2008 and 2009 for incentives offered by Congress, such as the production tax credit offered to renewable-energy firms. These amounts would likely be relatively small."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123111279694652423.html
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Am I reading this right? Why are companies that haven't paid any taxes (overseas I assume - those that sucked jobs out of our country for cheaper wages) allowed to get money? They are one reason we've lost jobs.
January 5, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome, and don't worry, as long as you begin each post with "All hail Barack! Pace tanti nominis," and finish with "Esto perpetua!" you should avoid most of the unwarranted criticism.
January 5, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just gotta stink-up the new girl's debut with your perpetual bitterheadedness, huh Sarge?
Seriously, did anyone who spotted Sarge's comment doubt that it would somehow attempt to diminish our enthusiasm for our President-elect?
Give it up. You are beginning to read like a cracked CD. Or worse, more in your(our) generation, a record with a bad skip. Your stylus keeps jumping back to the same old line.
Same old same old same old same old.
Same Old!
Grow beyond it, Sarge, it's time to deal with reality, not delusions.
January 5, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was making fun of the worshipers...not the worshipee...
January 5, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome! Ditto Mike from Arlington, and I'm sure none of us have to point out the self-identifying concern troll already on this thread.
With any luck we'll only be able to criticize you for your actual content, grammar, syntax and spelling, rather than making your eyes bleed with complaints about slow comment servers.
January 5, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome Elana! Glad to have you here.
Pleased also to have a woman as one of TPMs public faces. Good luck!
January 5, 2009 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to TPM, Elana
For starters, just go with the flow, and remember that the opinions of TPM commentors are as varied and diverse as anywhere on "The Street" so don't let the more trollish among us give you any lip.
One thing is for certain, Elana; if you consider yourself objective, others will try to convince you otherwise, no matter how carefully you word your posts.
So, as you dodge the slings and arrows of outrageous blog fortunes, always remember Polonius' advice to his son Laertes in Hamlet,
"To thine own self be true..."
We may disagree, but we will always respect you for it.
January 5, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been following your work since your days at The Hill. Always impressive! Looking forward to your contributions to TPM.
January 5, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to TPM Elana! I have no doubt that you will do just fine.
I hope the job will be as much fun for you as we have reading it.
January 5, 2009 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get hold of Matt Stoller over at OpenLeft who'll be heading to the House instead for some yet-to-be-disclosed netroots work. stoller (*at*) gmail dot com
January 6, 2009 4:01 AM | Reply | Permalink