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This week the Wednesday Wonk takes a break from discussing heavy policy questions like if the Congress will raise the debt ceiling or fund the Federal government after October 1. Instead, let me talk about the layout of Capitol complex and how you get from one side of...

The Wednesday Wonk has a confession to make: I may have lied to you, my faithful readers! In an earlier blog post, I suggested that the Federal government would not shut down this year. However, that was before the latest brouhaha over the debt ceiling emerged. Before...

Often in the news you will hear a reference to the Office of Management and Budget or OMB.  What does OMB actually do?  Who actually works at OMB and do they really know anything? Let’s take a look at some quick OMB facts. Originally created by the 1921 Budget and...

Yikes! It’s already September 8th!  That can only mean one thing: lots of Federal employees are busy making certain of two equally important matters.  With the end of the current fiscal year—all expenditures must be completed.   Second, what will happen in the...

This week, the Wednesday Wonk will talk about exactly what happens when an agency of the Federal government goes out of town. As you read this article, it’s important to keep in mind that I worked for the National Council on Disability and the U.S. Access Board.  Both...

Hello and welcome back to the Wednesday Wonk! Thanks for allowing me to take some needed time off!   I enjoyed family and friends, did plenty of thinking about my book, Capitol in Crisis, and did some work around the house.   Alas, vacation is over!  Today the Wonk...

This week’s Wednesday Wonk takes a look at the role of the Senate Parliamentarian in passing legislation.  Why is this so important?  How does this actually impact the legislative process? Currently, the Senate Parliamentarian is a woman named Elizabeth MacDonough as...

This week’s Wednesday Wonk focuses on the role of the Federal Register in fostering sound governmental practices.  So, what exactly is the Federal Register and why is it so important?  Does anyone really read this stuff? The Federal Register began in 1935 under...

As many of my readers already know, the Wednesday Wonk is also the author of the novel, Capitol in Crisis.  The main character of the book is Simone Perez, Architect of the Capitol.  What exactly is the Architect of the Capitol and what does that office actually...

This week, the Wednesday Wonk talks about the Congressional Research Service or CRS.  Wait—I thought you told us that Members of Congress have a small army of staff.  Now you’re telling us there’s another agency which Members of Congress can consult on policy matters?...

It occurred to the Wonk that, although I’ve explained a number of Congressional procedures, I’ve never told you how they keep track of it all!  Today the Wonk will give you the details of the Congressional Record including, how is it produced, what exactly does it...

In this week’s Wednesday Wonk we’re talking about Presidential appointees.  Did you know that—according to Wikipedia—there are approximately 4,000 Presidential appointees scattered throughout the Federal government?  What does this small army of people actually do?...

Over the last several weeks, regular Wednesday Wonk readers have learned the basics of the Congressional budget process. It’s an intricate and time-consuming process.  In the end, Reconciliation allows whichever party is in power to pass a major bill with a simple...

Those of you who faithfully read the Wednesday Wonk had just heaved a sigh of relief thinking that I was done with Budget and Appropriations stuff.  You’re probably saying something under your breath like, “She can’t be serious!”  Here’s the thing: the process of...

We’ve discussed how the President sends his budget to Congress, which then creates a real budget and from that the Appropriations Committee allocate funds.  We also talked about Continuing Resolutions and Government shutdowns.  Remember when I told you that...

Readers of the Wednesday Wonk will recall that the Budget and Appropriations process began when the President sent his budget to Congress.  Thereafter, the House and Senate Budget Committees dutifully rolled up their sleeves and set overall spending parameters.  Now...

When I was about six years old, my Daddy talked my Mom into buying a boat.  They bought a twenty-eight foot cabin cruiser which Mom named Kismet---it was meant to be!  Never one to do anything half way, Daddy had taken a Power Squadron course, learning the ‘rules of...

Last week’s Wednesday Wonk explained how budget and appropriations process begins when the President formally introduces his budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Today, let’s delve into the role of the House and Senate Budget Committees. What are the responsible for?...

When I began writing Capitol in Crisis I knew Rob Tate needed to be a strong character.  This guy had to possess a great deal of knowledge—and be very determined to ‘get the job done’ whatever the cost!  In some of my early drafts—which thankfully never saw the light...

This week, the Wednesday Wonk begins a series on the Federal Budget and Appropriations process.  Why is it important?  Does it really have any impact on my life? And why, oh why is it so darn complex?  The Wonk will walk you through this, step by step.  By the end of...