Word on the Hill: Free Fries

By Alex Gangitano

Posted September 7, 2016 at 5:00am

For all of us in the DMV, your health is in pretty good hands.

A new WalletHub study ranked Maryland first when evaluating health care costs and second for its overall health care system. D.C. ranked first in health care access, second in cost and ninth overall, while Virginia came in 13th overall.

WalletHub ranked the states based on the most cost-effective and highest-quality care using criteria such as the number of hospital beds, physicians and dentists, percentage of residents with health insurance, among others.

Happy BioFry 2016

The National Biodiesel Board is celebrating the return of Congress with free French fries from some of D.C.’s food trucks. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, outside Talay Thai — 406 First St. SE — pick up some free Old Bay, parmesan garlic and sea salt fries and learn how to recycle the oil used to cook them to make clean-burning biodiesel.

Hope Springs … Cautiously Optimistic After Labor Day

Sen. Marco Rubio told reporters he is “cautiously optimistic” about finding a way forward on a Zika package. A minute later, Sen. Gary Peters told reporters that he’s “cautiously optimistic” about finding a way forward to passing the water resources bill with aid for Flint, Michigan, in the weeks ahead.

Get Your Capitol Bookends

For the past 40 years, stones that were part of the Capitol have been sitting in Rock Creek Park. They were taken down in 1958 when the East Front was rebuilt in marble, moved to the Capitol Power Plant, and then moved again in 1975 to the park. They can move to your office, too — bookends made from the decorative sandstone are available for purchase on the U.S Capitol Historical Society gift shop website.

Maloney Is Really Excited About Fashion Week

A news release from Rep. Carolyn Maloney used five exclamation points to announce that New York Fashion Week is starting this week. The New York Democrat held a news conference on Tuesday to tout the economic impact of the fashion industry and discuss what to expect at the show this year.

Staffer Shuffle

Sen. Jim Risch’s new press secretary is Kaylin Minton, formerly communications director for Rep. Scott Rigell.

Deaths

Former House Daily Press Gallery Superintendent Jerry Gallegos died Sunday from liver disorder. He was 70. Before retiring in August 2013, Gallegos worked in the gallery for 44 years.

Spotted

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan in the Senate subway heading toward the secure area in the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday.