Heard on the Hill: Debt Debacle Highlights
When HOH thinks debt ceiling kerfuffle, we think fun, fun, fun. So here is a rundown of some of the great moments from the debt ceiling weekend:
Saturday
After the House wrapped up voting, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) was spotted getting her nails done at Capitol Nails.
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) was seen manning his office’s front desk. Was he answering phones? We haven’t a clue. Whatever the reason, it’s nice to see everyone pitching in, sir.
On the House side, HOH learned that pranksters gonna prank. A spy emailed us that there was a photocopy of a 1983 letter from the late President Ronald Reagan to then-Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker taped to the door of the newly christened Ronald Reagan Room.
In the letter, Reagan asks for “help and support in the passage of an increase to the limit to the public debt.”
Later that day, a food truck brought free pizza pies to the Hill for Members and staffers. (America thanks you, pie guys.)
Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) ran out to snag a slice and was told they were out of meat pizza. He left, probably heartbroken.
“I didn’t have the heart to tell him the photographers had grabbed the last of the meat pizzas,” an HOH spy says.
Sunday
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) took a break from legislative craziness to check out jewelry in Eastern Market. Way to do your part for the economy, Senator!
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) tweeted: “Happy birthday to my son, Jacob. Sorry I’m in Washington. Have an outstanding birthday.”
In our opinion, tweeting a birthday message with your location sounds like a cry for help, SOS or desperate mayday message. We only hope Jacob follows his dad on Twitter, or else there is a very sad Begich in Alaska right now.
Monday
Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is tired.
“I’ve been here for a long time,” the Nevada Democrat lamented on the floor. “I have a home in Nevada that I haven’t seen in months.”
“My pomegranate trees are, I’m told, blossoming and have some pomegranates on them. I have some fig trees and roses and things that I just haven’t seen,” he said.
Also, he has constituents.
Diane Sawyer approached freshman Rep. Allen West for an interview.
“I know you!” the Florida Republican squeed.
Sawyer smiled and replied that she knew him, too.
Hecklers shouted down Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) from the visitors gallery and through the halls of the Capitol: “Hey Boehner, get a clue, it’s about revenue.”