As control of the House changes, so do work tempos and personal lives
In a couple of weeks, life will change
dramatically for hundreds of returning House lawmakers and thousands of
their staffers as the Republicans claim majority status in the 112th
Congress and Democrats settle into the minority.
The
change will not just be political. It will also mean significant
lifestyle and workplace adjustments for nearly everybody who works in
the House.
change will not just be political. It will also mean significant
lifestyle and workplace adjustments for nearly everybody who works in
the House.
{mosads}The
Republicans’ workweek will become substantially longer, their families
will see less of them and their offices will take a different — more
chaotic — tone, with lobbyists and constituents streaming through their
doors, according to more than a dozen lawmakers and staffers from both
parties who have worked on Capitol Hill for a decade or more.
Republicans’ workweek will become substantially longer, their families
will see less of them and their offices will take a different — more
chaotic — tone, with lobbyists and constituents streaming through their
doors, according to more than a dozen lawmakers and staffers from both
parties who have worked on Capitol Hill for a decade or more.
Likewise,
Democrats will be able to enjoy longer lunches but also have to put up
with bosses who are in the office more, because they won’t have as much
committee work to attend to, they say. The bright side: a lightened
workload that comes with rejecting policy, as opposed to crafting it.
Democrats will be able to enjoy longer lunches but also have to put up
with bosses who are in the office more, because they won’t have as much
committee work to attend to, they say. The bright side: a lightened
workload that comes with rejecting policy, as opposed to crafting it.
“There’s
a real burden or obligation or responsibility on the majority that the
minority doesn’t have, and it’s reflected all the way from top to
bottom,” says Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), who has served in the
minority for most of his 16 years in office. In January, he will take
over as chairman of the House Administration Committee.
a real burden or obligation or responsibility on the majority that the
minority doesn’t have, and it’s reflected all the way from top to
bottom,” says Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), who has served in the
minority for most of his 16 years in office. In January, he will take
over as chairman of the House Administration Committee.
“It’s
the difference in boxing between being a reactive puncher and a
puncher,” Lungren says. “There’s a lot of nitty-gritty stuff that not
only goes to members, but staff as well, like just pure scheduling.”
the difference in boxing between being a reactive puncher and a
puncher,” Lungren says. “There’s a lot of nitty-gritty stuff that not
only goes to members, but staff as well, like just pure scheduling.”
Twenty-six-year
House veteran Howard Coble (R-N.C.) agrees that the workload for both
lawmakers and staffers is lighter in the minority because it’s more
reactionary.
House veteran Howard Coble (R-N.C.) agrees that the workload for both
lawmakers and staffers is lighter in the minority because it’s more
reactionary.
“When
you’re in the minority, it’s a lot easier to hit that red button,”
Coble says. “It’s a lot easier to come out ‘no’ on an issue. When
you’re in the majority, it’s not quite that comfortable.”
you’re in the minority, it’s a lot easier to hit that red button,”
Coble says. “It’s a lot easier to come out ‘no’ on an issue. When
you’re in the majority, it’s not quite that comfortable.”
A
Republican aide to another longtime member put it more bluntly, saying
the duties of a minority staffer aren’t nearly as pressing as the
workload of those in the majority.
Republican aide to another longtime member put it more bluntly, saying
the duties of a minority staffer aren’t nearly as pressing as the
workload of those in the majority.
“Let
me say it like this: If you’re down in Longworth having lunch with
co-workers and you need to take an extra 30 minutes, nine times out of
10, the boss isn’t going to frown on that,” the staffer said.
me say it like this: If you’re down in Longworth having lunch with
co-workers and you need to take an extra 30 minutes, nine times out of
10, the boss isn’t going to frown on that,” the staffer said.
But the minority party doesn’t necessarily get to slack off, several longtime Democratic and Republican staffers say.
“It’s
just a different sort of work,” a Democratic aide says. “You have to
follow very closely what the other party is doing and make sure that
you’re on top of your response to an issue when they pivot.”
just a different sort of work,” a Democratic aide says. “You have to
follow very closely what the other party is doing and make sure that
you’re on top of your response to an issue when they pivot.”
As
for members, a big shift in time-management occurs when committee
chairmen become ranking members. As the current head of the House
Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) expects
he’ll spend more time in his district and with his personal-office
staff next year.
for members, a big shift in time-management occurs when committee
chairmen become ranking members. As the current head of the House
Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) expects
he’ll spend more time in his district and with his personal-office
staff next year.
“They’ll
probably be tickled to see me more,” he says of his staff. “Physically,
I’ll be more present in my district rather than looking at issues along
the border and all over the country. I’ll have more time to deal with
constituent work.”
probably be tickled to see me more,” he says of his staff. “Physically,
I’ll be more present in my district rather than looking at issues along
the border and all over the country. I’ll have more time to deal with
constituent work.”
As
Republican lawmakers begin to focus on their committee duties, staff in
their personal offices will not have as much access to them;
simultaneously, those staffers will take the lead on the details of
constituent work and writing legislation. The shift in dynamics forces
staff to take a more assertive role.
Republican lawmakers begin to focus on their committee duties, staff in
their personal offices will not have as much access to them;
simultaneously, those staffers will take the lead on the details of
constituent work and writing legislation. The shift in dynamics forces
staff to take a more assertive role.
“You
become much more autonomous as an office,” a veteran Democratic staffer
says. “When we came back in the majority [in 2007] after 12 years of
not being in it, it was like the difference from being in college to
going to grad school. The boss isn’t around as much to give you a
guiding hand.”
become much more autonomous as an office,” a veteran Democratic staffer
says. “When we came back in the majority [in 2007] after 12 years of
not being in it, it was like the difference from being in college to
going to grad school. The boss isn’t around as much to give you a
guiding hand.”
Rep.
Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who has served for four years in both the majority
and the minority, agrees, adding that he has talked with staffers about
the impact their new role will have.
Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who has served for four years in both the majority
and the minority, agrees, adding that he has talked with staffers about
the impact their new role will have.
“You have to re-orient your staff and … say, ‘Hey this stuff could become law now,’ ” Cole says.
Though
they have hated it politically, several Republican staffers say that on a
personal level they’ve been OK with being in the minority the past
four years because it’s given them more time to be with family and
friends.
they have hated it politically, several Republican staffers say that on a
personal level they’ve been OK with being in the minority the past
four years because it’s given them more time to be with family and
friends.
“I
let family know [after Election Day] that I won’t be as available as I
have been over the past couple years,” one Republican aide says. “I
just know it’s going to be a heavy lift, and that’s going to take its
toll on the personal side.”
let family know [after Election Day] that I won’t be as available as I
have been over the past couple years,” one Republican aide says. “I
just know it’s going to be a heavy lift, and that’s going to take its
toll on the personal side.”
Something
as basic as a lawmaker’s office traffic often changes, as well. Minority
offices usually see fewer constituent, lobbying and media requests
simply because they don’t set the tone for the chamber, Cole says.
as basic as a lawmaker’s office traffic often changes, as well. Minority
offices usually see fewer constituent, lobbying and media requests
simply because they don’t set the tone for the chamber, Cole says.
“You
get a lot fewer visitors,” he says. “The reality is you’re not in the
middle of decisions as much as you were. The other side has the
initiative, and, frankly, you have more influence in the majority.”
get a lot fewer visitors,” he says. “The reality is you’re not in the
middle of decisions as much as you were. The other side has the
initiative, and, frankly, you have more influence in the majority.”
Several
Democratic aides say they’ve already noticed a downturn in foot traffic
and phone calls. Most say they’ve tried to use the shift as an
opportunity to focus on a few key legislative areas instead of aiming
to affect a broad range of issues.
Democratic aides say they’ve already noticed a downturn in foot traffic
and phone calls. Most say they’ve tried to use the shift as an
opportunity to focus on a few key legislative areas instead of aiming
to affect a broad range of issues.
“Where
one door closes, another one opens,” a Democratic staffer says. “In the
minority, you really have to pick and choose where you want to leave
your mark. And if you work hard enough at it, you really can [affect
policy] on a smaller scale.”
one door closes, another one opens,” a Democratic staffer says. “In the
minority, you really have to pick and choose where you want to leave
your mark. And if you work hard enough at it, you really can [affect
policy] on a smaller scale.”
Political
tides can turn quickly, and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) advises lawmakers
and aides in the minority not to take their diminished status
personally. They might not have as many friends as they did when they
were in the majority, but the 38-year veteran says minority lawmakers
have the opportunity to develop longer-lasting political relationships
that could be more fruitful anyway.
tides can turn quickly, and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) advises lawmakers
and aides in the minority not to take their diminished status
personally. They might not have as many friends as they did when they
were in the majority, but the 38-year veteran says minority lawmakers
have the opportunity to develop longer-lasting political relationships
that could be more fruitful anyway.
“It’s
amazing how many more acquaintances you have when you’re in the
majority and how quick those acquaintances leave when you cease to be
in the majority,” he says. “I try to remind staff once in a while that
this wheel is turning, so they shouldn’t seek revenge for those who
treated them badly … because it can come back to bite you.”
amazing how many more acquaintances you have when you’re in the
majority and how quick those acquaintances leave when you cease to be
in the majority,” he says. “I try to remind staff once in a while that
this wheel is turning, so they shouldn’t seek revenge for those who
treated them badly … because it can come back to bite you.”
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