Gramm-standing n.— «Hutchison’s knack for bringing home dollars as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee recalls the priorities of three Texas predecessors: Lyndon Johnson, Lloyd Bentsen and Gramm. And like Gramm, Hutchison has...
cat funds n.pl.— Note: “Cat” is short for “catastrophe.” «A ticking countdown to hurricane season will color Washington this week, when state officials overseeing these so-called “cat funds” will meet...
redheaded Eskimo n.— «On Capitol Hill, legislation carefully tailored to the needs of a tiny constituency is sometimes called a “Redheaded Eskimo.” He is in the Jobs Creation Act under “expenses paid by certain whaling...
silent stinker n.— «“There’s a filing deadline when legislative sponsors can propose new legislation,” said Harper. “In order to get around the filing deadline, they can file a shell bill, which is like a placeholder, that they can fill...
take a walk v. phr.— «These scores include votes cast and non-votes by members present at the time the vote was cast. This practice, known as “taking a walk” is a ploy some lawmakers use to avoid a recorded vote while actually...
antihomonuptial adj.— «I have actually considered that laws against (or implicitly disallowing) gay marriage are, actually, sexist. For example, suppose I lived somewhere with antihomonuptial legislation.» —“Gay marriage: the...