U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 4th District

In our profile of Representative Xavier Becerra, we noted that according to the 2010 U.S. census, persons of Hispanic or Latino origin make up 16.3% of the total U.S. population.  These numbers only further verify a political truth: there is no route to the White House without a significant proportion of Latino votes.  On Monday our Member of the Week, Representative Luis Gutiérrez, made this point abundantly clear when he said that Mitt Romney had “gone way too far” to cater to conservatives on immigrant rights; a move he claimed would backfire.

Capitol Hill’s most vocal proponent of immigrant rights, Representative Luis Gutiérrez’s observation seems to be well founded but ultimately may not matter in the long run; in 2008 Hispanics voted for Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden by a margin of more than two-to-one – carrying sizeable margins in all states with large Latino populations.

Now in his tenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez comes from very humble beginnings.  He was born and raised in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago.  His mother was an assembly-line worker and his father was a cab driver.  After his freshman year at St. Michael’s High School his parents moved the family to San Sebastián, Puerto Rico.  Gutiérrez’s time in Puerto Rico was a personal awakening; there he perfected his Spanish and found himself in an environment where his Puerto Rican heritage was accepted.

In 1974, after returning to Chicago, Gutiérrez enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University.  With a new sense of pride in his heritage, he became involved in student activism and social injustice issues, writing for the student publication Que Ondee Sola and serving as President of the Union for Puerto Rican Students.

In 1976, while a senior at Northeastern, Gutiérrez began driving a cab in order to raise enough funds to visit his longtime girlfriend in Puerto Rico.  He graduated in 1977 with a degree in English and returned to Puerto Rico to marry his girlfriend.  The couple returned to Chicago in 1978.  Unable to find work, Gutiérrez took up taxi driving full time.  Eventually, he found work as a Chicago Public School teacher and later as a child abuse caseworker with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services.

Gutiérrez’s political life began in 1983 when he left his job with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to run against incumbent Dan Rostenkowski for 32^nd Ward Democratic committeemen.  Once again, Gutiérrez relied on cab driving to acquire the necessary campaign funds – he drove seven days a week, 14 hours a day.

The political fight against Rostenkowski was borderline impossible – Rostenkowski was a twelve-term Congressman and Chair of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee.  Moreover, despite growing his campaign fund to $6,000, in Rostenkowski, Gutiérrez faced a seasoned politician with hundreds of thousands of dollars.  In the end, Gutiérrez was soundly beaten, with Rostenkowski gaining 76 percent of the vote.

Beaten but not downtrodden, Gutiérrez helped found the Cook County Coalition for New Politics in spring of 1984.  Meant as a grassroots, independent, multiracial counterweight to the Chicago Democratic machine, the Cook County Coalition established Gutiérrez as a rising leader in Chicago’s burgeoning Latino community.

It didn’t take long for others to notice.  Harold Washington, Chicago’s first African-American Mayor, appointed Gutiérrez in August 1984 to the position of deputy superintendent in the Department of Streets and Sanitation.  Gutiérrez would eventually grow in stature within the administration; he served as an administrative assistant to the Mayor and on the Mayor’s committee on infrastructure.

In 1986, Gutiérrez moved into his own political realm – relying on the support of Mayor Harold Washington and his pre-existing network of grassroots activists.  As the result of a November 1985 ward remap, special elections were ordered in seven wards, including the 26^th.  With the incumbent alderman of the 26^th ward not seeking re-election, Gutiérrez threw his hat into the ring.  The election was hard fought and by no means a given; Gutiérrez eventually won in a run off election with 53% of the vote.

As a member of the Chicago City Council Gutiérrez was a key backer of the 1986 gay rights ordinance – which sought to ban discrimination based upon gender & sexual orientation.  He was also a proponent of local economic development and construction of affordable housing.

His stint in the city council acted was a springboard to the congressional election of 1992.  After a court order created a new majority Latino congressional district in Illinois’ Chicagoland area, Gutiérrez announced his candidacy.  The combination of an endorsement from the Mayor of Chicago and the fact that all but one of his opponents dropped out of the race pretty much sealed the electoral win for Gutiérrez.  He coasted to victory with 77.6 percent of the vote.

Once in Congress, Gutiérrez attempted to organize the 63 incoming Democratic freshmen to support a reform agenda targeting earmarks.  Though noble, his attempts of organizing the freshman class were looked down upon by House leadership – he was passed up for his first choice of the Ways and Means Committee and his second choice of the Education Committee; instead he was assigned to the Banking Committee and Veterans’ Affair.

His role in championing immigration reform in the House led to his appointment in 2009 as Chair of the Democratic Caucus Immigration Task Force by Nancy Pelosi.  He continues to serve as the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force.

Gutiérrez’s support for immigration reform extends beyond Congress.  In addition to being the first elected official to sponsor a version of the DREAM Act in 2001, he also runs workshops within his district, which have helped more than 50,000 people begin the process of becoming U.S. citizens.  His district office was the first congressional office to seek and receive community organization designation as a result of the depth and breath of constituent services they provide.

Rep. Gutiérrez under arrest outside the White House on during a 2011 May Day protest for immigration reform

Gutiérrez’s story is defined by hard work and perseverance.  At his election night victory party in 1992 Gutiérrez stated: “If a Puerto Rican kid from Humboldt Park can go to the Congress of the United States, it shows the American dream is possible.”  Whether or not you agree with his policies or his latest comments regarding Mitt Romney, you can’t deny his success is not only justified, but also deserved.

–Amendment202

Did you enjoy our profile on Representative Luis Gutiérrez, check out our other Members of the Week!

Majority Whip & U.S. Representative for California’s 22nd District

At an appearance at a diner on Tuesday morning in South Carolina, Representative Mick Mulvaney laid into his fellow freshman Republican lawmakers.  What initially started as an introduction for Rick Perry turned into a verbal beat down in which Representative Mulvaney expressed his utter disappointment with freshman lawmakers who had “abandoned their constituents.”

These comments illustrate the divide in the House Republican Conference.  For our Member of the Week, Majority Whip and Representative for California’s 22^nd District, Kevin McCarthy, the comments represent an uncomfortable ideological gap that must be bridged when the party comes back to Washington next week.

Born in Bakersfield, California in 1965, Kevin McCarthy opened his first business, Kevin O’s Deli, at the age of 19 with the hopes of raising enough money to go college.  Apparently the business plan was spot-on because in 1989 McCarthy graduated from California State University, Bakersfield, with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.  He would go to earn his MBA in 1994.  Before entering politics in 1999, McCarthy ran several other small businesses.

Though he served as Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, McCarthy initially made a name for himself as the District Director for U.S. Congressman Bill Thomas, the Chairman of the House Way and Means Committee.  His first election victory was insignificant – in 2000 he won an election to become a Trustee to the Kern Community College District.

In 2002, McCarthy was elected to represent the 32^nd Assembly District in the California State Assembly.  As a freshman legislator, he was selected unanimously by his Republican colleagues to serve as the Assembly Republican Leader, becoming the first freshman legislator and the first legislator from Kern County to assume the post.  During his stint in the California State Assembly, McCarthy used his leadership position to address California’s immense budget deficit and overhaul the compensation system of public employees.

McCarthy entered the Republican primary for the 22^nd District in the hopes of replacing his former boss, retiring Congressman Bill Thomas.  After surviving the heavily fought Republican primary, he swept the general election with 70.7% of the vote.  Since then, McCarthy has been dominant in the Republican district.

As a freshman, McCarthy was appointed to the Republican Steering Committee.  In 2008, at the behest of John Boehner, he served as the Chairman of the Republican Platform Committee during the committee’s meetings in Minneapolis in August, which produced the Republican Party Platform for 2008.  After the 2008 election, McCarthy was chose as Chief Deputy Minority Whip and, after the Republican gains of the 2010 election; he was selected by the House Republican Caucus to be the House Majority Whip.

His meteoric rise was not unnoticed.  Newsweek named him one of the GOP’s “most persuasive compelling members.”  Roll Call named him the “rookie of the year” in the 110^th Congress and The Weekly Standard described him as one of the three “Young Guns of the House GOP.”

As the third-ranking House Republican, his allegiance to the party is not surprising – McCarthy voted with the Republican Party 96.4% of the time in 2011, which ranking 6 among the 242 House Republican Members.  His leadership in the House, along with John Boehner and Eric Cantor, will be called upon once the legion of unshakeable freshman members, such as Representative Mick Mulvaney, return to Washington, D.C.

–Amendment202

Did you enjoy our profile on Representative Kevin McCarthy, check out our other Members of the Week!

The Political Scandals of 2011: The Year of Smut

With the year ending and the congress leaving for the holiday break, we’ve decided to do something a bit different. We’re going to reflect on the Political Scandals of 2011.

Former Representative Anthony Weiner

Probably known as THE Political Scandals of 2011, On May 27, 2011, using his public Twitter account, Representative Weiner sent a link to a photo of his nether region concealed by boxer briefs to Gennette Cordova, a 21-year-old female college student from Seattle Washington, who was following his posts.

Though the link was removed shortly thereafter, screen shots of the message were soon leaked by conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart.  Aware of the impending disaster, Weiner gave a series of interviews on June 1, in which he denied sending the photo, instead claiming that his account was hacked.  He would later go on to say that he could not with certitude deny the photo was of him.

On June 6^th the scandal was a full-blown crisis.  The leaking of more photos, some sexually graphic, led to a press conference in New York in which Weiner admitted to sending the pictures.  Apologizing to his family, constituents, friends, supporters, and the media, Weiner made it clear that he had no intention to resign.

Unfortunately for Weiner his fate was already sealed.  With the release of more information, including more photos and allegations (which were later confirmed) that he conducted in phone sex with a woman in Nevada, Weiner quickly lost support in Congress; Nancy Pelosi called for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee and President Obama expressed his belief that if he were Weiner, he would resign.

Fighting an impossible battle, Anthony Davis Weiner announced on June 16^th that he would resign his seat in Congress.  He made the announcement at a news conference in Brooklyn, at the same location where he announced his first campaign for New York City Council in 1992.

Former Representative David Wu

On July 22, 2011, The Oregonian reported that an 18-year old woman, the daughter of a long-time friend and campaign donor, accused Wu of “aggressive and unwanted sexual behavior.”  The newspaper went on to report that the situation first came to light in May after aides heard a panicked voicemail from the young woman accusing Wu of the behavior.

When confronted by senior aides, Wu confirmed the encounter but described it as consensual.  After Nancy Pelosi called for an ethics investigation into the allegation, Wu announced that he would not resign but would also not seek reelection 2012.  Several days later, however, Wu announced he would resign.  He officially resigned on August 3, 2011.

The scandal was the latest of erratic behavior by Wu.  Shortly before the 2010 elections, Wu sent a bizarre picture of himself in a tiger costume to his staffers.  As a result, some of them urged him to seek psychiatric help.  More than a half dozen staffers and campaign constituents quit as Wu bombarded them with troubling phone calls and emails.

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

On May 9, 2011, we were all stunned to hear that Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger were separating after 25 years of marriage.  On May 16, 2011, The Los Angeles Times revealed that Schwarzenegger had fathered a son more than fourteen years earlier with an employee in their household, Mildred Patricia Baena.

The scandal broke after Schwarzenegger had left the governor’s office and only after Shriver confronted him with the information.  Fifty-year old Baena was employed by the family for 20 years and was pregnant with Schwarzenegger’s child at the same time that Shriver was pregnant with the youngest of the couple’s four children.

Though Schwarzenegger found time to spend time with the child, the boy was never told that Schwarzenegger was his father, and was unaware of the fact until it was revealed by the press.

Former Representative Chris Lee

On February 9, 2011, Gawker published an exposé detailing how Representative Chris Lee solicited a transgender individual on Craigslist.  Claiming to be a 39-year old divorced lobbyist but using his real name, Lee used a Gmail account to send her a shirtless photo taken with his Blackberry.  After searching his name and discovering that he the 39-year old lobbyist was in fact a married Congressman, the solicited individual turned the e-mail correspondence over to the press.

Lee resigned from office the same day.

Former Senator John Ensign

The scandal that enveloped John Ensign’s Senate career began with his extramarital affair with Cynthia Hampton.  Hampton was married to one of his top aides, worked for Ensign for Senate, worked for Battle Born PAC, a conservative political action committee of which Ensign was the honorary chairman.

At the time of the affair, Cynthia’s husband, Douglas Hampton, was a top administrative aide in Ensign’s Capitol Hill office, and Ensign and his wife had been close friends with the Hamptons before they were hired to work for Ensign.

After Douglas Hampton confronted Ensign regarding the affair in early 2008, Ensign contacted political and corporate supporters in Nevada, seeking work Hampton.  Within a few months Hampton was working for a political consulting firm in Nevada, with a client list that mainly consisted of Ensign campaign donors.  Despite being prohibited from lobbying Senate for a year after leaving his post, Hampton and Ensign ignored the restrictions.

In April 2008, Ensign’s parents gave Cynthia Hampton and her family $96,000.  Initially designated as gifts, Douglas Hampton revealed in late 2009 that the money was a severance.

The downfall of Ensign began on June 16, 2009.  Five days earlier, on June 11, Douglas Hampton sent a letter to Fox News, detailing the affair.  Though the letter became public news on June 19, Ensign beat the national media to the punch, admitting that he had had an affair on June 16, 2009.  A day later, Ensign stepped down from his post as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.

In February 2011, the Senate Ethics Committee appointed a special counsel to lead the investigation.  Ensign’s career in the Senate came to end on May 3, 2011, when he announced his resignation; this came after an announcement in March that he would not seek reelection in 2012.

Herman Cain

Starting in October, reports surfaced that two women accused Cain of sexual harassment and misconduct during his time as CEO of the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990s. The women reportedly accepted financial settlements from the association, which barred them from discussing their allegations further.

Accepting that some form of payment had been made by the Restaurant Association; Cain denied any impropriety, describing the allegations as a “witch hunt.” Following the initial accusations, two additional women came forward with harassment claims.

On November 28, 2011, allegations of harassment turned into allegations of adultery. A woman named Ginger White claimed to have had an affair that lasted 13 years, ending only right before announced his presidential campaign. Though Cain denied the affair, he did acknowledge helping pay her bills and expenses.

On December 3, 2011, Cain announced the suspension of his campaign for the presidency.

–Amendment202

Did you enjoy our article on Political Scandals of 2011, check out other articles!

U.S. Representative for New York’s 3rd

Spurred on by the 2009 shootings at the Fort Hood military base in Texas base and at a military recruiting station in Arkansas, which killed a total of 14 people and wounded more than two dozen, Representative Peter King – Our Member of the Week – along with Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, is holding a hearing on the radicalization of Muslim-Americans within the U.S. military.

Considered the next stage in his series of efforts to address the radicalization of American Muslims, Representative Peter King has stated that the issue of radicalization within military communities is one that is grossly under the radar.

Born in Manhattan, raised in Sunnyside, Queen, Peter T. King was the son of Democratic Irish-American parents – his father was a New York City police officer.  King graduated from St. Francis College in Brooklyn in 1965 and earned his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1968.

King spent his first years after graduation practicing law for the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office before seeking public office in 1977, running for an at-large seat on the Hempstead, New York Town Council.  With the backing of the then-powerful Nassau Country Republican Party network led by Joseph Margiotta, King won and would go on to serve for four years.

After his stint in Hempstead, King successfully ran for Nassau County Comptroller in 1981, serving three terms.  As Comptroller, he displayed independence, often criticizing the budget proposals of Republican County Executives.

Local Republican leaders anointed King as the handpicked successor when Democratic Congressman Representative Robert Mrazek announced his short-lived candidacy for Senate against Republican incumbent Alphonse D’Amato in 1992.  After an easy primary win, King faced stiff Democratic opposition and attacks for his opposition to abortion rights and support for the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.  In addition, King was outspent 5-to-1.  Despite facing the odds, he eked out a narrow victory, winning 50 to 46 percent.

As the case with a few of his colleagues we’ve profiled before, his first election was his only tough congressional election to date.

He continues to flourish as the lone Republican congressman in Long Island – grabbing a larger chunk of the Democratic-leaning New York congressional district with every election.  Moreover, he is among the more independent-mind members in the House, voting with the Republican Party nearly 89% of the time.

In December 2010, King sparked national controversy and divided House Republicans when he announced that as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee he would hold a hearing on the radicalization of American Muslims.  It should be noted that during the 1990’s King enjoyed a close relationship with the Muslim community in his district.  He often gave speeches at the Westbury Islamic Center, held booking signings in the prayer hall, took in Muslim interns, and was one of the few Republicans who supported U.S. intervention to help Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo.

A self-described “blue-collar conservative”, Representative King has a history of working with Democrats.  He worked with President Clinton on Northern Ireland peace negotiations and Representative Carolyn McCarthy on an unsuccessful bill to build a public database tracking how banks used government bailout funds.

Conservative on foreign policy, national security and social issues while a friend of labor unions, Representative Peter T. King is one to keep an eye on.

–Amendment202

Did you enjoy our profile on Representative Peter King, check out our other Members of the Week!

U.S. Representative for Alaska

The 6^th most senior U.S. Representative, the 2^nd most senior Republican Representative, the 2^nd most senior Republican in Congress, and our Member of the Week, Donald Edwin “Don” Young has been Alaska’s sole representative in the U.S. House for the last 36 years.  As someone who has been dogged by accusations of corruption and ties to various scandals, it should come as no surprise to anyone that this week the House Ethics Committee has announced that it is extending a probe into possible ethics violations by Representative Don Young.

Linked to a lengthy probe by the Justice Department into whether Representative Young accepted gifts from the oil industry in exchange for political flavors, the Ethics probe may shed light on how exactly Alaska, one of the least populous states in the union, continues to receive a hugely disproportionate amount of federal funds (think of the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere”).

Born in Meridian, Sutter County, California, on June 9, 1933, Donald Edwin Young moved to Alaska in 1959, shortly after it became a state.  Prior to the move, he earned an associate’s degree in education from Yuba College in 1952, served in the Army from 1955 to 1957, and earned his bachelor’s degree in teaching at Chico State College in 1958.

Once in Alaska, Young worked myriad jobs, ranging from construction to commercial fishing.  He eventually settled in Fort Yukon, a 700-person city on the Yukon River, seven miles above the Arctic Circle in Alaska’s central interior region.  During the spring, summer, and fall, Young captained a tugboat (he still holds his mariner’s license) and ran a barge operation to deliver products and supplies to villages along the Yukon River.  In the wintertime, he taught 5^th grade at the local Bureau of Indian Affairs school.

His political career started soon thereafter, though on a much smaller level than many of his colleagues.  In 1964, he was elected mayor of Fort Yukon.  After only one term, he was elected to the state Legislature, where he served from 1966 to 1970, before being elected to the state Senate.

Less than 10 years passed from Young’s mayorship of Fort Yukon to his ascension to U.S. Congress.  In 1972, Young campaigned against incumbent Representative Nick Begich.  Tragically, Begich disappeared in a plane crash on October 16, 1972 and was declared dead on December 29.  But he was re-elected anyway, posthumously.  Despite losing in the initial campaign, Young won the seat in the special-election the following March with 51 percent of the vote.  He won a full term in 1974 with just 54 percent of the vote.

Between 1976 and 2006, Young had little competition in his re-election, facing slight competition only in 1978, 1984, 1986, 1990, and 1992.  He faced a stern test in 2006 from Democrat Diane Benson and in 2008, when Young faced a bevy of Alaska Republicans, led by Sarah Palin, that were against “politics as usual.”  In both cases, Young handily won.

Young’s tenure in the House is impressive – he is often called “Alaska’s third senator” – but consistency has come with controversy.  In a Rolling Stones article, in which he was listed as the third-worst congressman, he was quoted as saying that “Environmentalists are a self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots” who “are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.”  In another example, during a debate on native Alaskans right to sell sex organs of endangered animals for the purpose of aphrodisiacs, he pulled out an eighteen-inch penis bone of a walrus and brandished it like a sword on the House floor.

In addition to other controversies – one of Young’s former aides, Mark Zachares, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Jack Abramoff to buy influence in Washington – few can rival Young’s appetite for legislative earmarks.  In 2005, Young and former Senator Ted Stevens earmarked $223 million for building the Gravina Island Bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island.  Dubbed as the “Bridge to Nowhere”, the funding seemed more ridiculous in lue of the fact that there currently exists a small car and passenger ferry that travels the ¼ mile crossing in 3 to 7 minutes and runs every half hour.

In 2006, Young added a $10 million earmark to a transportation bill for the construction of an interstate interchange for a short stretch of road near Fort Myers, Florida.  Puzzled as to why Young earmarked a project in Florida, the New York Times reported that a local real estate developer, Daniel J. Aronoff, who owned 4,000 acres along the road helped raise $40,000 for Young shortly before the earmark was inserted.  To justify the earmark, Young initially said that the local Republican congressman, Connie Mack, had requested it.  It was soon learned that both Mack and local Republicans opposed the funding.

Even with the ongoing probe into his connections with Veco Oil Company and his other stated controversies, Representative Don Young has committed over 40 years of his life to serving Alaska.  Say what you will about the man, but he has always tried to put his constituent’s best interests first.

–Amendment202

Enjoyed our profile on Representative Don Young from Alaska, check out other members of the week!

Looking for a job on capitol hill? Hill Job List!

New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is seeking unpaid Interns for the spring semester, preferably to begin in early January and finishing in May.  Interns will:

• assume primary responsible for sorting incoming mail, greeting visitors, and answering the telephone.
• Assist in the preparation of constituent responses, bills, and amendments.
• Perform research legislative research.
• Respond to requests from constituents.
• Attend briefings, hearings, and special events where they may have the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress, leaders of industry and the press.
• Gain valuable Hill experience and learn about the federal legislative process.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler represents New York’s 8th Congressional District, which includes the residents of most of the Upper West Side, Lower Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn.  Congressman Nadler serves on the Judiciary Committee and on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he is the highest ranking member from New York.  He is the Ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Applicant Instructions:

Please e-mail or fax a resume, brief cover letter, and 1-2 page writing sample to:  Email: Ben.freeman@mail.house.gov Fax: 202- 225-6923.

From: Schloesser, Chris
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 03:31 PM Eastern Standard Time
To: 
Subject: Senior Legislative Assistant Opening

SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT – Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee seeks a Senior Legislative Assistant to handle all issues before the Committee in addition to several non-committee issues.  Ideal candidate has an advanced degree with 3-5 years of Hill experience, excellent writing skills, solid analytical abilities, and strong political instincts.  This is not an entry-level position.  Please email cover letter, resume, two writing samples (maximum of two-pages each), and salary requirements to SrLAopening@gmail.com.  An on-site writing test will be required of all candidates.  Resumes accepted until COB on Friday, November 18.  No phone calls or drop bys, please.

From: Travieso, Amy
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:21 AM
To: Travieso, Amy
Subject: TX JOB OPENING: Scheduler/Executive Assistant

Member of Democratic Leadership seeks disciplined, assertive, organized self-starter to serve as Scheduler/Executive Assistant in Washington, D.C. office.  Duties include managing Member’s daily schedule in Washington and District, reviewing and scheduling invitations, coordinating travel arrangements, and keeping Member on schedule throughout day.  The position requires exceptional organization skills, strong written and verbal communication abilities, savvy political instincts, attention to detail, multitasking abilities, prioritization skills, and poise. The position requires the ability to work long and irregular hours in a fast-paced environment.  The successful candidate will be driven, self-motivated, meticulous and responsible.  Previous scheduling experience, Texas ties, Spanish skills and possession of a vehicle are advantages, but are not required.  Please send resume and cover letter to TX.Job.Opening@gmail.com

From: California, Resume
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:10 AM
Subject: Deputy Press Secruity Job Opening

Democratic congressional office in Los Angeles seeks a Deputy Press Secretary to work with the Communications Director. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, creating and distributing e-newsletters, franked mailings and questionnaires; planning in-district events; drafting press releases; managing and updating official website and social media accounts; editing video; and helping to develop and implement communications strategies. Candidate must be a team player with superior writing and organizational skills. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. California ties and Spanish language skills are a plus. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to Resume.California@mail.house.gov. No calls, faxes, or drop-ins please.

From: Gleeson, James
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:21 AM
To: California, Resume
Subject: Deputy Press Secretary Job Opening

Democratic congressional office in Los Angeles seeks a Deputy Press Secretary to work with the Communications Director. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, creating and distributing e-newsletters, franked mailings and questionnaires; planning in-district events; drafting press releases; managing and updating official website and social media accounts; editing video; and helping to develop and implement communications strategies. Candidate must be a team player with superior writing and organizational skills. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. California ties and Spanish language skills are a plus. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to Resume.California@mail.house.gov. No calls, faxes, or drop-ins please.

House openings:

MEM-929-11

The House Education and the Workforce Committee, Majority Staff, seeks a Professional Staff Member responsible for K-12 education and human services issues. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 to 5 years of relevant experience on Capitol Hill, in federal or state government, or the education field. This candidate will exhibit a thorough knowledge of education policy; a proven record of generating, advancing and completing legislative initiatives; a strong attention to detail; and strong writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Candidates must be creative, capable of working under tight deadlines, and be able to work as part of a team. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and short writing samples to: edandworkresumes@mail.house.gov. No telephone calls please.

MEM-928-11

Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee seeks a Senior Legislative Assistant to handle all issues before the Committee in addition to several non-committee issues. Ideal candidate has an advanced degree with 3-5 years of Hill experience, excellent writing skills, solid analytical abilities, and strong political instincts. This is not an entry-level position. Please email cover letter, resume, two writing samples (maximum of two-pages each), and salary requirements to SrLAopening@gmail.com. An on-site writing test will be required of all candidates. Resumes accepted until COB on Friday, November 18. No phone calls or drop bys, please.

MEM-924-11

Senior Midwest Democrat seeks a Press Assistant to work with Communications Director in managing press and communication operations.  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing and updating official website and social media accounts; editing video; creating and distributing e-newsletters, franked mailings and questionnaires; planning in-district events; drafting press releases and remarks for staff and Member; and helping to develop and implement media, communications, and public relations strategies.  Candidate must be highly dependable, flexible, able to travel on a regular basis, and able to form close working relationships with co-workers and individuals outside the office.  The selected applicant will have superior organizational and management skills.  Knowledge of the appropriations process and Indiana ties a plus.  Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to in01.resume@mail.house.gov.  No calls, faxes, or drop-ins please.

MEM-923-11

North Carolina Democratic Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee seeks experienced, proactive, detail-oriented individual with sound political judgment and excellent communications skills, to serve as Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff serves as the Member’s chief policy advisor and manages the overall operation of the Congressional Office. The Chief of Staff is responsible for developing and implementing the policy objectives, strategies and operating plans for the Member’s office. Additionally, this position manages and directs all activities and staff, and coordinates the activities of the Member with leadership and committee office(s).

The ideal candidate would have North Carolina ties, at least 5 years of professional Hill or Hill-related experience, working knowledge of issues facing rural communities, management experience and a strategic understanding of issues within the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Applicants must be available to begin immediately.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and references to NC01.resume@mail.house.gov with the Subject Line: Chief of Staff Vacancy. No phone calls, faxes or drop-in, please.

MEM-922-11

Budget Review Professional – Senate Committee seeks highly experienced professional familiar with all aspects of the federal budget with a particular emphasis on numerical work. Candidate must have a minimum of 5 years experience working with Excel spreadsheets. Must also possess significant experience in all Microsoft programs. Applicant also must also have knowledge of federal budget concepts, rules, and procedures. Qualified applicants should also have significant prior budgeting experience, preferably at the federal level. Applicant must also possess strong organizational ability, as well as superior quantitative and analytic skills. Ability to meet tight deadlines and excellent written and oral communications skills are necessary. Send cover letter and resume to: senate.response@gmail.com

MEM-918-11

Progressive member of the Appropriations Committee seeks Legislative Director to manage all aspects of a diverse and dynamic legislative agenda. At least 3 years of hill experience, along with knowledge of appropriations process (especially labor and education) and foreign policy. Outstanding writing skills, ability to manage work of others, and to take initiative to advance agenda is required. Please submit resume, cover letter and one writing sample to lee.resumes@mail.house.gov. No calls or drop-bys please.

MEM-914-11

Senior House Democrat seeks Legislative Assistant to handle a portfolio that includes transportation and infrastructure committee issues, budget, taxes and appropriations. Responsibilities include developing legislative initiatives, tracking legislative developments, writing briefing materials, floor statements, and constituent correspondence. Candidates must have excellent verbal and written communications skills. Prefer two years of Hill related experience. Salary commensurate with experience. To apply, e-mail resume and cover letter to demoffice@yahoo.com.

MEM-913-11

Democratic Member of Congress from Texas seeks a highly-organized, energetic and detail-oriented individual for the position of Assistant to the Chief of Staff. Must be able to work closely with the Chief of Staff on special projects in the Washington, D.C. and District offices. Job duties include: managing office operations, assisting the Chief of Staff with administrative duties, coordinating with District office on special events, providing staff support and performing other duties as assigned. Ideal candidate will have experience working under pressure in a fast-paced environment, working as a team player, a sense of humor and the ability to work a flexible schedule. A bachelor’s degree and at least one year working in a congressional office is preferred. Must have strong oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills. Experience with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and Intranet Quorum is a plus.  Please send cover letter and resume to TX09ResumeInbox@mail.house.gov. No phone calls or drop-ins please.

MEM-912-11

Senate Committee (Majority) seeks Counsel. Responsibilities include legislative drafting and other critical legal and procedural matters. Applicants should be highly motivated team players, possess strong analytic and persuasive ability, be able to meet tight deadlines and demonstrate excellent written and oral communications skills. Hill experience strongly preferred. Knowledge of Senate procedure and experience with budget process a plus. Plesae send cover letter and resume to: senate.response@gmail.com.

MEM-907-11

Moderate Northeast Democrat is seeking an experienced Legislative Assistant to handle domestic policy issues related to healthcare, budget, trade and economic development issues in a fast paced office. Duties include representing the Member in meetings, developing legislation, writing speeches and editing correspondence. This is not an entry level position. Ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of legislative experience, preferably working on the Hill. Please email your resume, cover letter, and a short writing sample to Hill.Resumes@mail.house.gov by COB 10/21/11. No phone calls or drop bys.

MEM-897-11

STAFF ASSISTANT/SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR – Senior Midwest Democrat seeks an experienced Staff Assistant/Systems Administrator to maintain Member website, office computers, computer network, and formulate initiatives as assigned.  Applicants should have knowledge of current computer software and applications; knowledge of the legislative process, and excellent oral and written communication skills to deliver Member’s message to constituents via website and social media.  System duties will include trouble-shooting network, Blackberry, and iPad problems, as well as computer assistance to Member and staff.  Applicant must be able to thrive in a fast-paced office environment, work independently and collaboratively, have strong interpersonal skills and possess a sense of humor.  Prior Hill experience highly valued, previous work experience required. Please email cover letter, resume, references, and a writing sample to house.positionopen@gmail.com. No drop-ins, calls or faxes.

MEM-893-11

The Democratic Staff of the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress seeks staff Economists with a serious interest in public policy research. Subject areas of interest include health economics, public finance and applied microeconomics. Successful candidates will have strong written and oral communication skills. The position requires independent research, as well as working closely with other economists on the staff, in the federal government and academics throughout the country.  A full-time, professional staff position is being offered, but single-year appointments will be considered.  A Ph.D. in economics is required. The Joint Economic Committee’s mission is to review economic conditions and make recommendations to Congress about a broad range of policy issues.  The Committee holds hearings, conducts original research and analysis, and advises Members of Congress on economic policy.  For more information on the work of the Democratic staff of the Committee, please visit our website at http://jec.senate.gov.

If interested, please submit a cover letter, resume, references and two short writing samples to jobs@jec.senate.gov with the subject line “Economist.” This office is an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, uniformed service, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression

Still looking for a job, check out other Hill Job Lists
!

U.S. Representative for Alabama’s 6th

Stepping away for a moment from the ongoing ineptness of the supercommittee lets go back to an earlier time; more specifically, let us travel back to the evening of September 18, 2008.

At 7pm, Representative Spencer Bachus, and his colleagues, received a private briefing by Hank Paulson and Ben Bernanke about the state of the economy.  Bernanke emphasized how the financial crisis was going to spill into the real economy, how stocks would drop a further 20 percent, and how unemployment would rise, if nothing was done.

The next day Spencer Bachus, the House Financial Services Committee Chairman and our Member of the Week, bought trade stock options that, in essence, bet that the market would fall; options worth $7,846 were purchased on a day when the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at $8,604.  Fast forward a few days to September 23, after the market had indeed fallen, Bachus sold the options for over $13,000 and nearly doubled his money.

An only child, Spencer Thomas Bachus III was born on December 28, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama.  A self titled “Deep South Southerner”; Bachus grew up in rural Alabama.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in 1969, served in the Alabama National Guard from 1969 to 1971, and earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama in 1972.

Prior to starting his political career in 1982, Bachus practiced law in his native Birmingham, while also running a sawmill company.  As a young attorney he was confident, bordering on cockiness; he would boast to colleagues that he was a good enough trial lawyer to have produced four straight acquittals in murder trials.

In 1982, at the age of 35, Bachus was elected to the Alabama Senate, becoming one of three Republicans elected to that body since Reconstruction.  He ended up serving only one year as new legislative elections were scheduled for 1983 when the existing district lines were declared unconstitutional.  He was then elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1983, serving one three-year term.  Immediately afterwards, Bachus signed became the campaign manager for former Alabama Governor Guy Hunt’s successful 1986 campaign.  He showed himself to be very adept, leading to his election as the first Republican on the Alabama State Board of Education in more than a century.

This success was followed by disappointment.  In 1990, Bachus ran unsuccessfully for attorney general of Alabama, collecting a measly 36 percent of the statewide vote.  A year later, he became the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, serving in that position until his campaign for Congress.

Bachus entered national politics off the back of a series of events promulgated by the 1990 census.  As a result of the census, the Justice Department required Alabama to have a black-majority district.  Soon thereafter, a federal court reconfigured the neighboring 7^th district, adding several of the historically black parts of Birmingham and the historically whiter and wealthier portions of the Tuscaloosa were included in the 6^th.

Campaigning as a fiscal and social conservative, Bachus faced a stern challenger in 10-year incumbent, Representative Ben Erdreich, a moderate Democrat from Birmingham.  Despite, being outspent 2-to-1, Bachus ended up defeating Erdreich in the Republican-leaning, redrawn district with 52 percent of the vote.  Since his election in 1993, he hasn’t faced a serious challenger.

Though his voting record is almost completely conservative, Bachus has supported measures outside of his ideological domain.  He was fundamental in forcing the GOP leadership to support two Clinton administration foreign initiatives to increase spending to Africa.  His work on behalf of impoverished areas overseas has garnered him praise from Oxfam.

Bachus denies that he traded on any non-public information.  The facts may show otherwise.  In addition to Bachus, Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have been accused of the same trade activities.  The grievances leveled against Bachus are another black eye for Congress, an institution that is increasingly losing support from a public worn down by scandal and the complete breakdown of bipartisan cohesion.

–Amendment202

Enjoy our profile on Rep. Spencer Bachus, check out other Members of the Week.

U.S. Representative for Indiana’s 6th

One of the concessions that Republicans in the House and Senate won from Democrats during the negotiations to raise the debt limit was the opportunity to vote on a balanced budget amendment by December 31^st.  Last Friday, House Republicans met in a special GOP conference to discuss whether they wanted to pressure vulnerable Democrats or pursue a hard line conservative stance on the floor.  Characterized by a principle vs. political pragmatism debate, GOP lawmakers are approaching this amendment with a full realization of the growing hindrance that has developed as a result of the ongoing evolution (good or bad) of the party.  One of the lawmakers at the center of this debate – and our Member of the Week – is Representative Mike Pence.

One of six children, Pence was born in Columbus, Indiana on June 7, 1959.  He attended Columbus North High School, before going on to Hanover College.  His time at Hanover was eventful, with an ideological conversion that saw him go from Democrat sympathizer to Republican, and from Catholic to evangelical protestant.  After graduating from Hanover in 1981, Pence continued his education at the Indiana University School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctorate in 1986.

With a law degree in hand, Pence started work as attorney.  This was short lived.  In 1988, and then again in 1990, he moved into the political spotlight after running – and losing – for the House seat he now holds.  Even with the direct endorsement of President Ronald Reagan, Pence lost both times to Representative Phil Sharp, a moderate Democrat.

His second defeat was seen across the political landscape as the end of a political career that had no beginning. But Pence stayed in politics, evolving into a commentator.  He was the president of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, a conservative think tank, and the radio host of the Mike Pence Show, a right-leaning talk program that was syndicated across the state from 1994 to 2000.

The opportunity to try again for the 6^th District came in 2000.  It was at this time that then-Representative David McIntosh left his seat to run for governor in 2000.  Sensing his chance, Pence moved into the race.  He started his campaign on the offensive, defeating five other candidates in the Republican primary.  In the general campaign, Pence faced questions about his lack of military service and was accused of not offering enough relief for middle-class families.  He countered these allegations with calls for across-the-board tax cuts and Medicare reform.  Ultimately, third time was the charm and Pence won with 51 percent of the vote.

Beginning in January 2001, Pence quickly became one of the party’s leading conservative voices, railing against the dangers of big government.  He maintained a hardened ideological consistency leading to a unanimous election as chairman of the Republican Study Committee in 2005.  Entering the position, he vowed to put more conservative federal judges on the bench, limit abortion rights, and cut spending and entitlement programs in Medicaid.  Nearly a year later, Pence ran for House minority leader, only to lose spectacularly to John Boehner, 168-27.

After being reelected in 2008, Pence ran unopposed for the GOP conference chairman.  He was easily elected, becoming the third-highest ranking Republican and the first Representative from Indiana to hold a House leadership position since 1981.  The position was tailor-made for the media-savvy Pence.  He entered the position off the back of overwhelmingly Republican losses in 2008.  Charged with resurrecting a political brand that was no longer appetizing to a broad swath of voters, Pence ended his tenure with the Republicans retaking the House in 2010.

One of the most outspoken conservatives in the Republican Party, Pence has been quoted as saying “I am a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.”  He is a particular champion of controlling the federal budget and cutting government pending, and also support free markets.  In the ongoing internal debate regarding the balanced budget amendment, Pence is the leading advocate of political pragmatism, supporting a version of the amendment requiring a two-thirds majority of members to raise taxes, and would cap federal spending at 20 percent of the GDP.

According to various sources, the amendment has little chance of passing.  Though Representative Pence is running for the governorship of Indiana in 2012, his sway in Congress may continue to push the Republican Party down a road of decision-making emphasizing political confrontation.

–Amendment202

Did you enjoy our profile of Representative Mike Pence, check out other members of the week!

Are you a Republican looking for a job in the House? Look no further!

I bring you the House GOP Job List for November 8, 2011!

11/3/2011

Internship: Texas Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives is looking for full time, unpaid Spring interns. Internships can start in December or January and can last through the end of May. Interns in the Washington, D.C. office will be responsible for assisting with general office duties (answering phones, passing out mail, distributing faxes), and assisting legislative staff with research and writing. Performing constituent services (scheduling tours, processing flag requests, and legislative correspondence) will also be an integral part of each internship. Interns will be encouraged to attend hearings, briefings, and other Congressional proceedings. Additional duties are available and will be assigned according to an intern’s interest and ability. Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and will have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline. Texas ties are preferred but are not required. Please email resume and cover letter to lauren.ehrsam@mail.house.gov with “Internship” in the email subject line. No phone calls please.

11/2/2011

Press Secretary/Comms Director: Republican freshman from mid-Atlantic seeks Press Secretary or Communications Director. Candidate must be a superb writer with experience dealing with media outlets. On-the-record experience preferred but not required. Hill experience a strong plus. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resume, references and one writing sample to:republicanpress@gmail.com

Internship – Congressman Steve King is looking to fill spring internship positions in his Washington, DC. The internship will end in May 2012. Applicants should be committed, pro-life conservatives with strong writing skills. Ideal candidates will also be personable self-starters able to multi-task and work well under pressure. Iowa ties are a plus. Duties include answering phones, sorting mail, leading capitol tours, drafting constituent mail and helping legislative staff with research & writing projects. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter explaining their interest in working for Congressman King to maison.bleam@mail.house.gov with “Spring Internship” in the subject line. Please visit here for more information: http://bit.ly/qiyjmm

11/1/2011

Executive Assistant/Scheduler – Republican member of Congress from New Jersey is seeking a Scheduler/Executive Assistant to organize and execute the Member’s schedule and coordinate administrative duties. Previous scheduling or Executive Assistant experience are desired, and New Jersey ties are a plus. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: handling all scheduling requests, coordinating member and staff travel, handling Member’s personal correspondence, manage front office operations, administer the DC Internship Program and various other office management responsibilities. The ideal candidate would be highly organized, multi-tasker with good political judgment who will work closely with the Chief of Staff and District Director . Salary commensurate with experience. No calls or drop-ins. Please fax resume and cover letter to 202-318-1481.

Spring Unpaid Intern- Florida Republican Member seeking conservative internship applicants to start in January. Applicants must be hard working and self starters with strong communication skills. Daily activities include but are not limited to answering phones, distributing and sorting mail, various office tasks, entering constituent information into the computer, directing tours, handling flag and tour requests, helping staff members with assignments. Please send your resume and cover letter to flhousejob@yahoo.com. Florida ties preferred.

Interns – The Office of Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-3) is seeking spring interns for the months of January through May 2012. Internship responsibilities include handling all forms of constituent correspondence, guiding Capitol tours, attending committee hearings and briefings, drafting memos for staff, and a number of other tasks. This is a full-time, unpaid internship. Kansas ties are a plus but not a requirement. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to USHouseGOP@gmail.com with the subject line “Spring Internship Application.”

10/31/2011

Internship: Congressman Greg Walden of Oregon is seeking interns to start immediately in his Washington, D.C. office. Congressman Walden is a member of the House Republican leadership and the chairman of a very active subcommittee on Energy & Commerce, so the office is always very busy. Ideal candidates will be college students or recent graduates who are outgoing, proactive, hard-working, detail-oriented, enthusiastic, able to multi-task, and have a history of customer service. Interns will assist with many of the daily necessities related to constituent relations and legislative research. Although no two days are the same, an intern may be expected to attend and take notes at policy briefings, lead Capitol tours, answer phones, and assist in managing constituent correspondences and administrative operations. Interns will be immersed in the congressional process and their work will provide valuable experience for future endeavors. All interested applicants are encouraged to send their resume and cover letter to OR02internship@gmail.com .

10/27/2011

Spring Internship: The office of Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-5) is seeking qualified applicants for a Spring 2012 internship in Washington D.C., beginning in January. Duties include, but are not limited to: working with the Chief of Staff, Legislative Director and Legislative Aides in drafting constituent correspondence, attending congressional hearings and briefings, answering phones, sorting mail and conducting tours of the Capitol. Wisconsin ties are preferred, but not required. Applicants must be current college students or recent graduates. If interested, please send a cover letter, resume, and references to the Internship Coordinator, at: wi05resume@gmail.com

Fall & Spring Internships– Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) is currently seeking interns to start work immediately and in the spring. Interns are responsible for assisting with general front office duties including answering phones, conducting and scheduling tours of the Capitol, logging and writing office correspondence, and helping with other administrative tasks. Applicants should be detail oriented with excellent communication skills and a friendly demeanor. Oklahoma ties are preferred but not required. Interested candidates should direct their resume, cover letter, and a short writing sample to Sarah Corley at jobsok05@gmail.com.

10/26/2011

Legislative Correspondent: Senior Republican Member from the Northwest seeks an individual with Hill experience to be in charge of the constituent correspondence system (IQ). Candidates must demonstrate superior writing, communication, and organizational skills. Knowledge of the legislative process, sound judgment, and attention to detail are also required. Please email resume and cover letter to resumes.lc@mail.house.gov.

Internship: Rep. Austria (R-OH) seeks unpaid intern/s to start immediately and for the Winter term. Schedule is flexible. Responsibilities include: greeting constituents, answering phones, Capitol tours, flag requests, drafting letters, assisting legislative staff as needed and other office duties as assigned. If interested, please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to intern.oh07@gmail.com. No phone calls please.

Internship: The Washington, D.C. Office of U.S. Representative Dave Camp (R-MI) is seeking diligent, enthusiastic and organized undergraduate students for unpaid legislative internships during the upcoming fall 2011 semester. These positions provide exposure to the legislative process while developing an understanding of how a congressional office operates. Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to: constituent tours, organizing constituent mail, administrative duties, attending briefings, assisting with special projects, and the potential to assist legislative staff with research on various issues. Interns available to start mid-August with full-time availability and Michigan ties are strongly preferred. If interested, please send cover letter, resume, two writing samples and letters of recommendation to Katelyn Wilcox, Intern Coordinator, at (202) 225-9679 or email at katelyn.wilcox@mail.house.gov.For more information on Congressman Dave Camp and Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, please visit our website at www.camp.house.gov.

10/24/2011

Spring Internship: Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-09) is looking for Spring interns for his Washington D.C. office. Applicants should possess conservative values, be personable, and have strong writing skills. Duties include performing administrative tasks, attending Congressional hearings, leading Capitol tours for constituents, and helping legislative staff with research on important projects. There will also be an opportunity to work on issues that interest him or her. Position is great for Capitol Hill experience. Start and end dates are negotiable and both part/full-time positions are available. Interested applicants should send resume and brief cover letter summarizing their interest in working for Rep. Luetkemeyer to Kristina.Weger@mail.house.gov with “Spring Internship” as the subject.

Spring 2012 Intern – The Office of Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) is seeking qualified applicants for a Spring 2012 internship beginning in January. Responsibilities include answering telephones and greeting visitors, researching legislative issues, assisting with constituent correspondence, and working with staff on various projects. Ideal candidates will be detail-oriented multi-taskers with great communication and teamwork skills who can operate effectively as team players in a high-paced environment. These internships are unpaid but offer a great experience to enter into Capitol Hill. Pennsylvania ties are preferred but not required. Although hours are flexible, preferred applicants will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Sean.Snyder@mail.house.gov.

Spring intern – The Office of Congressman Joe Barton is in the process of looking for a qualified intern for the Spring semester. Our selection criteria can be found at: http://www.joebarton.house.gov/ConstituentServices.aspx?section=7. If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as you can by sending a cover letter and resume. Also, Texas ties are preferred. If you are not from Texas but have either attended school or worked in Texas, please highlight this in your cover letter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Intern Coordinator at Emmanual.guillory@mail.house.govor call 202-225-2002.

Intern: Congressman Crawford is seeking interns for his Washington, D.C. office for the spring 2012 semester. In his DC office, internships run throughout the fall, spring or summer semesters for qualified college juniors and seniors, or recent college graduates. Although all internships in his offices are unpaid, students gain invaluable work experience. The hours are flexible to accommodate students’ hectic course schedules, but generally run 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. when Congress is in session, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. when not in session. In Washington, interns’ responsibilities will vary. They will be asked to answer phones, run errands, research legislation for the Member and legislative staff, attend hearings and briefings and answer constituent letters on various issues before the House. As a result, interns learn about the legislative process and the many other functions of a congressional office. Applicants should possess a great work ethic; have agreeable communication skills, and strong writing skills. Arkansas ties are ideal, but are not required. Interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume to: ar01jobs@gmail.com no later than December 2, 2011.

Intern: Congressman Aaron Schock is seeking interns for his DC office for the Spring Semester. This internship would start and January and run into May. Although all internships in the office are unpaid, students gain invaluable work experience. The hours are flexible to accommodate students’ hectic course schedules, but generally run 8:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. when Congress is in session, and 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. when not in session. Interns’ responsibilities will vary. They will be asked to answer phones, run errands, research legislation for the Congressman and legislative staff, attend hearings and briefings and answer constituent letters on various issues before the House. As a result, interns learn about the legislative process and the many other functions of a congressional office. Applicants should possess a great work ethic; possess good communication skills, and strong writing skills. Central Illinois ties are ideal, but are not required. Interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume to ben.jarrett@mail.house.gov.

Intern: Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) has two full-time, unpaid internships available for the 2012 spring session in his Washington, DC office. Duties include answering telephones and greeting visitors, collecting constituent information, researching legislation and policy issues, drafting policy updates, attending briefings and hearings, and assisting communications, administrative and legislative staff. Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline. This is a great opportunity for college students and graduates seeking Capitol Hill experience. Virginia ties preferred, but not necessary. Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume to VA04Interns@mail.house.gov with “Spring Internship” in the subject line by Monday, November 21. No phone calls.

Interns: Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) is seeking unpaid interns for the fall of 2011. Candidates should have an interest in public policy. Interns will have the opportunity to attend committee hearings and briefings for staff members, assist in the constituent correspondence process, as well as assist with other constituent services. Responsibilities include: taking phone calls, processing constituent mail, and performing other general office duties. Applicants should be interested in the legislative process, enthusiastic, reliable, and hard-working. Full or part time internships with flexible schedules are available. Ties to Virginia’s First Congressional District are preferred but not required. Interested candidates should fax their resume and cover letter to (202) 225-4382 or email brad.ellison@mail.house.gov.

10/20/2011

Legislative Assistant: Rep. Sue Myrick (NC-09) is seeking a legislative assistant. North Carolina ties and prior Hill experience are preferred. Position will focus primarily on a budget and tax policy portfolio. Please send resume to MyrickJob@gmail.com.

Internship: Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) has a full-time, unpaid internship available for the remainder of the 2011 Fall session in his Washington, DC office beginning asap. Duties include but are not limited to answering telephones, greeting visitors, conducting tours of the Capitol, researching legislative issues, and working with our mail database system. There will also be opportunities to experience Washington DC and cultivate your interest in American government by attending briefings, hearings, and classes.Qualified candidates should possess excellent organizational and communication skills, should have a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic. Although internships are unpaid, our office is happy to fill out any necessary forms for students to receive credit at their respective college or university. Florida ties are preferred but not necessary. All interested individuals should submit a cover letter and resume to Catherine.Eng@mail.house.govwith “Fall 2011 Internship” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Include in your cover letter why you would like to intern on the Hill for Congressman Posey, why you believe you are qualified, as well as how soon you will be able to start. Should we wish to move forward with an interview, we will contact you soon.

Spring Internship – The office of Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is currently seeking spring interns to work in his Capitol Hill offices. The spring internship is a 12-week program, with the opportunity to start as early as January. Duties include but are not limited to leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, assisting the legislative staff with policy research and projects, attending committee hearings and briefings, aiding in constituent correspondence, in addition to various other administrative tasks. Join our dynamic office and experience first-hand the political and public policy process, along with the many functions of both a congressional and a leadership office. Paid internships are available. Interested candidates should complete the internship application available on the Congressman’s website: www.kevinmccarthy.house.gov. Please include days and times available, attach a resume, and send to Mari.Kishimoto@mail.house.gov.

10/19/2011

Internship – Southern Republican seeking an unpaid intern who can start immediately. Interns will have an excellent opportunity to observe the inner workings of a Congressional office and assist staff with constituent services, communications, administrative tasks, and legislative research. Candidates should have a strong work ethic, be highly organized and motivated. Alabama ties are helpful but not required. Please email (with your name in the subject line) a resume and cover letter to GOPinternship@gmail.com.

Legislative Assistant: Rep. Southerland’s office is seeking an LA for the following issue areas, if you happen to know of potential staff which may be interested in this position you may refer any resumes to myself at the address below. (Florida ties preferred.) (Key Focus: Military, Budget, Banking)Karen.williams@mail.house.gov

10/17/2011

Internship – A Republican Congressman from Washington is seeking internship applicants to start immediately for the fall semester. Interns will have an excellent opportunity to observe the inner workings of a Congressional office and assist staff with constituent services, communications, administrative tasks, and legislative research. Candidates should have a strong work ethic, be highly organized and motivated, and possess a positive attitude. Qualified applicants should send their cover letter, resume and references to Colin.Swanson@mail.house.gov.

10/12/2011

Legislative Correspondent – Member seeking conservative legislative correspondent. Familiarity with the legislative process and Intranet Quorum (IQ) are required and those without Hill experience need not apply. Responsibilities include but are not limited to managing, drafting, researching and responding to constituent correspondence, creating mail reports, writing proactive mailers, and briefing the Member on trends in correspondence. Applicants must be committed, pro-life conservatives, detail-oriented, driven, team players with exceptional writing skills. Send resumes to HillJobs2011@gmail.com. Ad will expire on October 28, 2011.

10/11/2011

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP: Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-04) is looking for full or part time unpaid winter/spring interns for his Washington D.C. office to start in January, 2012. Applicants should possess conservative values, be personable, and possess strong written and verbal communication skills. Duties include (but are not limited to) performing administrative tasks, attending Congressional hearings, leading Capitol tours, answering phones, sorting mail, and helping legislative staff with research. Start and end dates are negotiable. We also work with current students looking to receive college credit for their internship. Interested applicants should send resume and brief cover letter summarizing their interest in working for Congressman McClintock to Chris.Tudor@mail.house.gov with “2012 Internship” as the subject line.

Internship Opening: A Republican Congressman from California is currently looking for unpaid interns to begin immediately. Daily duties include, but are not limited to: answering phones, distributing mail, conducting Capitol tours for constituents, attending hearings and briefings, and assisting legislative staff with various projects. Ideal candidates should possess excellent oral and written skills and be comfortable in a fast-paced working environment. California ties are preferred, but not necessary. If interested, please email a resume, cover letter, and list of references to resumeslhob@gmail.com.

10/7/2011

Intern: The office of a conservative member from Wisconsin is seeking a full time intern to join the Washington D.C. office for the remainder of the fall semester. Successful candidates will be goal-oriented self-starters with a professional demeanor and excellent communications skills. Duties include, but are not limited to: opening mail, answering phones, writing constituent correspondence, guiding constituents on tours of the Capitol, attending hearings, and assisting staff members with various projects.Wisconsin ties are preferred, but not required. Note: this position is unpaid. Interested candidates should email WIjob112@gmail.com with a resume and cover letter.

10/6/2011

New Media Intern (Unpaid) – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, is seeking interns for GOP Labs (an innovative GOP “think and do tank” on Capitol Hill: http://roll.cl/oC8E8O). The successful candidates for this highly competitive internship must possess excellent written and oral communications skills, political acumen and be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously with an emphasis on innovative, outside the box thinking. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: drafting/distributing social media posts; monitoring social media and cable news; attending press conferences & briefings; and tracking emerging technology trends. Background in Journalism or Public Relations is a plus – but a strong interest in digital media, and basic knowledge of graphic design, video, audio and/or photography and editing in those mediums is a must (i.e. PhotoShop, Final Cut Pro, etc). The successful candidate will have a pro-active, can-do attitude, and be a team player. Commitment to a quarter-long internship is preferred, but duration is flexible. Please complete the application form at: http://GOPLabs.com. No Calls, Faxes or Drop-Ins please. For more info, follow: http://twitter.com/GOPLabs.

10/3/2011

Midwest Republican seeks Deputy Press Secretary/New Media Coordinator for fast-paced media operation. Ideal candidate will have 1-2 years of on the Hill experience; as well as familiarity with working with the press. The role will involve traditional press focused duties including building media hit databases, creating press lists, and outreach to state and national blogs. Candidates should also have experience with social media, video editing, website management, and some design knowledge. Please submit resume, cover letter and a writing sample to: gopmidwestpress@gmail.com Please no phone calls or drop-in’s.

**********************************

Internship Opening: A Republican Congressman from California is currently looking for unpaid interns to begin immediately. Daily duties include, but are not limited to: answering phones, distributing mail, conducting Capitol tours for constituents, attending hearings and briefings, and assisting legislative staff with various projects. Ideal candidates should possess excellent oral and written skills and be comfortable in a fast-paced working environment. California ties are preferred, but not necessary. If interested, please email a resume, cover letter, and list of references to resumeslhob@gmail.com.

Senior Legislative Assistant/Counsel –A Conservative House Member Office seeking a Senior Legislative Assistant for his Washington, DC office. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing the Member’s issue portfolio on the House Judiciary Committee, preparing the Member for committee hearings/briefings/mark-ups and floor activities, developing and managing legislative initiatives, writing constituent correspondence and representing the Member in meetings. The ideal candidate have approximately two years of prior Hill experience as a Legislative Assistant and a J.D. Candidates must have an ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple projects at the same time and possess strong written and oral communications skills. Please send resume and cover letter to houselajob@hotmail.com.

Internships – A Republican Congressman from California is currently looking for unpaid interns to begin immediately. Daily duties include, but are not limited to: answering phones, distributing mail, conducting Capitol tours for constituents, attending hearings and briefings, and assisting legislative staff with various projects. Ideal candidates should possess excellent oral and written skills and be comfortable in a fast-paced working environment. California ties are preferred, but not necessary. If interested, please email a resume, cover letter, and list of references to resumeslhob@gmail.com.

Internships – The Office of Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle is seeking diligent, energetic individuals for Spring Internships. Interns will be given the opportunity to develop leadership, management, and policy experience. Duties include answering phones, conducting Capitol tours, assisting staff members and Congresswoman Buerkle with achieving our legislative goals and constituent outreach. Interns will be challenged and will be given practical tools for career and academic success. Applicants should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, be self-motivated, and able to work as part of a professional team. Twenty-fifth District/New York ties are strongly recommended. All interested persons should contact Alisa Wolking, Internship Coordinator for Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle, at 202-225-3701 or alisa.wolking@mail.house.gov. Please have cover letter, resume, references, and a writing sample available.

Internship – Intern tasks include administrative duties such as answering phones, sorting mail, running errands, and leading tours of the Capitol for constituents. Additionally, interns may research legislation, draft letters and memos on behalf of legislative staff. Interns may also have the opportunity to attend hearings, and briefings, to enhance their knowledge of the legislative process and the many other functions of a congressional office. Ideal candidates are current college students or recent graduates with are highly motivated, detail-orientated with strong organizational and writing skills. A positive attitude and ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure are also highly valued. Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, one-page writing sample and completed application form in one email to StiversOpening@gmail.com. Preference is given to applicants from OH-15 or Ohio.

Internship – Southern Republican seeking an unpaid intern who can start immediately. Interns will have an excellent opportunity to observe the inner workings of a Congressional office and assist staff with constituent services, communications, administrative tasks, and legislative research. Candidates should have a strong work ethic, be highly organized and motivated. Alabama ties are helpful but not required. Please email (with your name in the subject line) a resume and cover letter to GOPinternship@gmail.com.

Internship – The office of Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA – 07) is currently seeking internship candidates for the spring semester in their Washington, DC office. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in public service and wish to learn more about Congress and the legislative process. This is an unpaid position and would begin in early January. All interested candidates should direct their resumes and cover letters to PA07.House@gmail.com.

Internships – Congressman Steve King is looking to fill spring internship positions in his Washington, DC. The internship will end in May 2012. Applicants should be committed, pro-life conservatives with strong writing skills. Ideal candidates will also be personable self-starters able to multi-task and work well under pressure. Iowa ties are a plus. Duties include answering phones, sorting mail, leading capitol tours, drafting constituent mail and helping legislative staff with research & writing projects. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter explaining their interest in working for Congressman King to maison.bleam@mail.house.gov with “Spring Internship” in the subject line. Please visit here for more information: http://bit.ly/qiyjmm

Couldn’t find an job in the House GOP List, check out other job opportunities here!

U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6^th

While you were celebrating Halloween over this past weekend, Beacon Power Corporation, an energy storage company that received a $43 million Energy Department (DOE) loan guarantee last year, was filing for bankruptcy.  The second Energy Department-backed company that has gone bankrupt, Beacon Power’s failure has raised new questions about President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan.  Moreover, the collapse of Beacon Power couldn’t have come at a worst time for the White House, with the ongoing probe into the $535 million loan guarantee for the now-defunct Solyndra heating up.

Representative Cliff Stearns, our Member of the Week and the chairman of the Oversight and Investigation subcommittee within the House Energy and Commerce, has used Bacon Power’s woes as a “sharp reminder” that Obama’s green energy agenda is detrimental to the American taxpayer.

Born in Washington, D.C. on April 16, 1941, Stearns’ father was a Justice Department attorney.  He attended Woodrow Wilson High School before attending George Washington University, where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering.  As an undergraduate he participated in the U.S. Air Force ROTC and was honored as the Air Force ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.  Following graduation, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force as an aerospace engineer in satellite reconnaissance during the Vietnam War.

Stearns left the Air Force in 1967 with the rank of Captain, and worked in the private sector before starting his own business by purchasing a motel.  He eventually sold his first property and moved to Ocala, Florida, where he founded a motel-management company supervising five motels and three restaurants in the region.

Stearns’ civic activism was at the forefront of his Congress bid in 1988.  He was president of the Kiwanis Club, on the Board of Directors for the Boy & Girls Club, on the Board of Directors for Munroe Regional Hospital, and on the board of the Ocala Chamber of Commerce.  During the 1988 race for the 6^th District seat, he touted himself as a “citizen congressman” and a business owner.  In addition, Stearns’ conservatism resonated in a district with a substantial agricultural sector.  In the general election, Stearns won with 54 percent of the vote.

Stearns has never had trouble holding the 6^th District.  Blending a conservative philosophy with occasional pandering to independents, his impact has been varied.  His successful legislative provisions include liability limitations for gun manufacturers and dealers in negligence cases, restricting Internet spam, and establishing the Do Not Call Registry.

He is highly regarded for his extensive record on fiscal responsibility.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored Stearns in 2010 for his consistent support of economic growth, reduced federal spending, and tax relief.  In 2008, he was one of only 39 House Members to receive an “A” rating from the National Taxpayers Union.

As the lead investigator into the Solyndra debacle, the impact Stearns will have depends mainly on how far Republicans want to push the Obama Administration.  As with any scandal, Stearns faces the challenge of expanding the issue of grievous Energy Department loans into a national referendum on President Obama’s economic ideology.

–Amendment202

Enjoy or profile on Rep. Cliff Stearns, check out other Members of the Week!