U.S. Congressional News

Latest Articles

Khazei, Like a Fox?

If there is to be a candidate in the Massachusetts US Senate race who inspires the sort of grassroots, progressive following that propelled Governor Deval Patrick into office three years ago — an insurgent candidacy, if you will — it figures to be ideali
Insiders don’t think Alan Khazei has a chance in the US Senate race. But progressive activists could make him an underdog with bite.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | October 16, 2009

Burn, baby, burn

The Phoenix opposed President Barack Obama's efforts to help Chicago win the 2016 Summer Olympics on the grounds that doing business with the International Olympic Committee is always bad news for the host community.
The Olympics, zipper-gate, stimulus money, and why Coakley must investigate City Hall
By EDITORIAL | October 09, 2009

Snowe: A party of one

US Senator Olympia Snowe has maneuvered herself into a position where she is the only hope Democrats have of getting a "bipartisan" agreement on healthcare reform.
Party politics
By JEFF INGLIS | September 18, 2009

Blowhard, interrupted

Former Red Sox great Curt Schilling isn't the only prospective US Senate candidate agonizing over whether to run for Ted Kennedy's old seat. But unlike some of his potential rivals the Bloody Socked One seems determined to share his Hamlet act with the
If Curt Schilling runs for Senate, will he keep his sports-media perch?
By ADAM REILLY | September 11, 2009

Choosing Kennedy’s successor

Massachusetts should have a temporary US senator until voters elect a replacement to serve out the remaining three years of Ted Kennedy’s term.
The state needs to name a replacement — and soon
By EDITORIAL | September 04, 2009

Giant shadow

One striking aspect of the Kennedy tributes was the focus on the help he and his office provided for ordinary individuals in Massachusetts — all those things that fall under the category of "constituent services."
Though he won't be on the ballot, Ted Kennedy's influence will be keenly felt in the special election to replace him. Plus, the lack of a GOP candidate, and the Kennedy effect on Boston's city elections.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | September 04, 2009

Hey, hey, we're the Monkees

The law of averages says if you put 100 monkeys in a room with 100 computers, they'll eventually write a workable national health-care bill. Apparently, that rule doesn't apply to 100 US senators.
Politics and other mistakes
By AL DIAMON | September 04, 2009

Ted's turn

A little-known provision in the crime bill now being negotiated by a House-Senate conference committee would greatly expand the number of prison cells available to house violent criminals, and it wouldn't be cost a dime. But it may be doomed unless Sen
Clinton caves on crime bill, but Kennedy can still salvage it
By AL GIORDANO | August 28, 2009

Ted Kennedy's real record

When a 32-year incumbent seeks re-election, there is a long and well-documented record that can be examined. So it's disconcerting to note that admit all the miles of newsprint and videotape that have been expended covering the US Senate campaign, littl
A note on the 32-year-incumbent's accomplishments
By AL GIORDANO | August 28, 2009

After Ted

The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy early Wednesday morning brings to a close the life and legendary career of one of Massachusetts's greatest political figures.
Kennedy’s death came amid renewed speculation about his succession, his family, and potential candidates for his job
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 28, 2009

How's Obama doing?(1)

Politics, an old cliché holds, is the art of the possible. Achieving the possible is a matter of power. And in a media-saturated democracy, power flows to those with good poll numbers.
Better than you think, but his health-care plans are a problem
By EDITORIAL | August 07, 2009

Jews and Latinos get cozy

While US Senate Republicans dropped politically prudent bombshells on Sonia Sotomayor during her Supreme Court–nomination hearings this week, watchdogs from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Latino Professional Network (LPN) kept extra close ears
ADL + LPN 4EVA
By CHRIS FARAONE | July 17, 2009

Artful dodger

Phillipe and Jorge are quite disappointed to see that the Rhode Island School of Design Museum will be closing for the month of August, largely due to its endowment being down due to the economic recession.
Keep the RISD Museum open in August! Plus, the weirdness on C Street.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | July 17, 2009

Avoiding the problem

Over the course of Olympia Snowe's career in the US Senate, companies and workers in the healthcare and insurance industries have been her top donors (except for retirees and retiree political-action committees, which are obviously also concerned with
Snowe misses the point of healthcare reform
By JEFF INGLIS | July 10, 2009

Human rights watch

Last week, on the heels of anti-torture panels and protests in Portland, Washington DC, and elsewhere, the Justice Department told the nation that it would have to wait a few more days before information about American torture policies and practices is
Acknowledging, and punishing, torture
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 26, 2009

Female Trouble

Conventional political wisdom says that for a party to oppose a woman — or a women's issue — it's best to send out a female spokesperson.
A shocking dearth of Republican female pols should have the party in a panic. So why doesn't it care?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 05, 2009

Time to wake up

The news that Massachusetts's finances are in even worse shape than previously thought was not exactly a surprise.
The State Legislature and Boston's big municipal unions are hurting the public
By EDITORIAL | April 17, 2009

John McCain

Now that John McCain has proven that he's as effective a campaigner as he is a power forward, it's time he shuts his yap once and for all. Watching this shipwreck adulterer sound off on the Senate floor is like watching a bag lady scream at ducklings; an
Now that John McCain has proven that he's as effective a campaigner as he is a power forward, it's time he shuts his yap once and for all. Watching this shipwreck adulterer sound off on the Senate floor is like watching a bag lady scream at ducklings; and the idea of him Twittering is funnier than imagining Stephen Hawking popping wheelies.
By Boston Phoenix Staff | March 26, 2009

5. Rod Blagojevich

As much as we were entertained by the former Illinois governor's alleged raffling off of a vacant U.S. Senate seat, we just can't get past the coif. People who insist on yapping about his “railroading” should just spy from the neck-up for evidence that B
As much as we were entertained by the former Illinois governor's alleged raffling off of a vacant U.S. Senate seat, we just can't get past the coif. People who insist on yapping about his “railroading” should just spy from the neck-up for evidence that Blago has been doing business with greasy palms for years.
By Boston Phoenix Staff | March 26, 2009

Light that failed

How has Maine's term-limit law, restricting legislators to eight consecutive years in office, been working since it was approved by voters in 1993?
How is Maine's term-limits law working?
By AL DIAMON | March 25, 2009

Cleaning up Maine's sleaze

When tourists admire Maine's picturesque waterfronts, they aren't close enough to smell the barrels reeking with rotting lobster bait.
Politicians have left it to the people
By LANCE TAPLEY | March 18, 2009

Make no mistake

Please note that David S. Bernstein's February 27 story "Capuano Cornered?" contains some inaccuracies.
Letters to the Boston editor, March 6, 2009
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | March 04, 2009

Blackballed

Turner might want to avoid hitching his fortunes to those of such utterly disreputable pols as former DC mayor Marion Barry, ex-Newark mayor Sharpe James, and Dianne Wilkerson.
If Chuck Turner is innocent, why is he aligning himself with a coterie of disreputable African-American leaders?
By CHRIS FARAONE | March 04, 2009

Capuano cornered?

Republican lobbying-ethics scandals helped convince voters to toss out the GOP and put Democrats back in control of the US House of Representatives.
Could a developing Washington probe hurt the Somerville congressman, and derail his Senate hopes?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 25, 2009

Youth infusion

In DeLeo's restructuring, white, non-Hispanic men older than 45 fell from power in droves.
The surprisingly diverse leaders of team DeLeo. Plus, do environmentalists have reason to worry?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 19, 2009

Money talks

To hear our state legislators talk lately, Beacon Hill is all about reforming the sketchy, poorly governed relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.
Can Beacon Hill reform itself when the State Senate President and the new House Speaker rake in so much lobbyist cash?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 04, 2009

One of a kind

Phillipe + Jorge took time to attend the funeral of Claiborne Pell, in deference to all that he did for both Rhode Island and civility everywhere he went.
Rest in peace, Claiborne Pell, former senator and all-around class act
By PHILLIPE + JORGE | January 07, 2009

00-Panetta

President-elect Barack Obama's pick of Leon Panetta as director of the Central Intelligence Agency caught Washington by surprise.
Why Leon might be right for the CIA. Plus: Al Franken, Roland Burris, and Caroline Kennedy.
By EDITORIAL | January 07, 2009

Sweet Caroline for Senate?

Just like everyone else, P+J have been following the saga of Caroline Kennedy and the New York senate seat.
Thoughtful leadership could dispel the stench of celebrity
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | December 29, 2008

Ridiculous and sublime

Certainly what will stick out most in our minds are those wonderful hours late on November 4, when we hugged and cheered and attempted to get from one side of Empire to the other without spilling our beer.
Maine got stranger in 2008
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 23, 2008

Friends' Activity

Popular