Lobbyists scramble to meet Rep. Hoyer’s recess deadline

[babylonsister]

Lobbyists scramble to meet Rep. Hoyer’s recess deadline
By Jim Snyder
November 13, 2007


Friday looms large for lobbyists: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) set that deadline for bills to be through committee and on the floor if they are to be voted on this year.

With most spending measures outstanding and a major energy bill Democratic leaders are keen on passing, there will be little floor time after lawmakers return from Thanksgiving break for much else in the final stretch of the session.

“What I’ve told the committee chairmen is that the only business that I will schedule time for will be the finishing of business that we’ve already initiated and that we are getting back from the Senate, whether it’s appropriations bills or other conference reports on authorization bills, energy being one,” Hoyer said in a recent colloquy with House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).

“There would be no initiated legislation out of the House after the 16th of November,” Hoyer said.

The end-of-session crush comes with a bitter irony for lobbyists. As legislation important to their clients moves closer to final-draft form, their ability to influence the outcome is often diminished. Staffers and members huddle amongst themselves. Hill contacts often go dark.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lobbyists-scramble-to-meet-rep.-hoyers-recess-deadline-2007-11-13.html

[lynnertic]

1. will conyers hold hearings before the end of the year?

[rateyes]

2. Where's those contempt charges they were going to vote on in

October? :shrug: