Word on the Hill: How to Get Your Photo Taken With the President

By Alex Gangitano

Posted January 5, 2017 at 5:00am

Florida Democratic Rep. Frederica S. Wilson knew what to do when she saw an opportunity to take a photograph with President Barack Obama on his way to a meeting with House and Senate Democrats on Wednesday.

In the Capitol Visitor Center, Roll Call photographer Bill Clark caught her waiting for Obama to come down the hallway.

Eventually, just as she planned, she found her way into a photo with the president — cowboy hat and all.

How to get your photo taken with the President, starring @RepWilson pic.twitter.com/NAPRJkMKr3

— Bill Clark (@billclarkphotos) January 4, 2017

10 percent of Congress educated by Jesuits

Ten percent of the 115th Congress are alumni of Jesuit colleges and universities. There are 12 in the Senate and 44 in the House, to total 56, which is an increase from the 50 members in the last Congress, according to the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Two Senate freshman Democrats make the list — Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen, who went to Georgetown University, and Nevada’s Catherine Cortez Masto, an alumna of Gonzaga University.

Jesuits belong to the Society of Jesus, a male religious order in the Catholic Church.

Staffer shuffle

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus announced that Alma Acosta, former senior policy adviser for Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, will be its new executive director, and Javier Hernandez, who worked in campaign communications, will be the group’s communications director.

Rick Dearborn is headed for the White House where he will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, intergovernmental affairs and implementation. He is currently chief of staff to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general.

ICYMI: Overflow crowd

Thousands of people reportedly couldn’t get into an overflowed room at Union Station on Tuesday night for a reception for newly sworn-in Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. Van Hollen and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer came outside and addressed the crowd in the middle of the station’s Great Hall.

Lobbyist CR Wooters captured the moment.

This is crazy. New Senator @VanHollenForMD and Senator Schumer address the overflow crowd at Union Station. 1000s can’t get in the room. pic.twitter.com/WlF9go5VtX

— CR Wooters (@crwooters) January 3, 2017

Overheard

“I think she forgot she lost.”

— Rep. Chris Collins, responding to a question about Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi saying Republicans don’t have the votes to repeal the 2010 health care law.

“Nothing wrong with Twittering. … I’m showing my age.”

— Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., at a press conference on Wednesday.