I came to Washington 34 years ago, as a new member of the House. Gas was 65 cents a gallon, an electric typewriter was the most cutting-edge technology in my office.
A lot has changed since then. In addition, the 112th Congress convenes at a particularly somber moment in our history.
I offer here a few observations to new members, in hopes that they help make an extraordinary experience more productive and rewarding.
In my first years here, public faith in the tax code was at an all-time low. The code was fraught with tax avoidance and investment-distorting provisions. One prime example of the flaws was Super Dairy Cows. Taxpayers could receive substantial benefits by investing in dairy cows — though incentives led to a tremendous surplus of milk, which ended up rotting in federal warehouses. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski held hearings that helped educate the public about how the broader code might be improved. Without this public forum, we would never have reached a bipartisan consensus on tax reform — and those dairy cows would have prevailed.
Former Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri served as a House Democratic leader. He is now president and chief executive officer of Gephardt Government Affairs.
Breaux and Gephardt. Gerard and Maloney. Berman and Podesta. According to First Street, these were among the most powerful lobbyists in Washington this year.
...Tom O'Donnell, Gephardt Government Affairs Group. O'Donnell and his former Capitol Hill boss, ex-House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (Mo.), have done well since joining forces...
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Gephardt's former chief of staff Tom O'Donnell talks to National Journal about post-debt ceiling debate prospects for bipartisanship.
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Video: How Will FAA Crisis Affect You?
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Debt-limit votes have been called the "burden of the majority" — an unpleasant chore that needed to be done by whichever party happens to be in power.
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Christina Hamilton, Former Chief of Staff to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey, will join the firm. As a Senior Vice President with the firm, Christina will support the firm’s health, energy, transportation, trade and appropriations clients.
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Life on the outside after more than 41 years in Congress hasn’t been much different for former House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis. — or so it seems.
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Dick Gephardt participated in Vice President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s welcoming lunch honoring Her Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Gephardt Government Affairs President & CEO Dick Gephardt announced that Former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey will join the firm.
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"If there was a tough leadership assignment in the country right now, it would be this job — at the top of everybody's list," says former House majority leader Richard Gephardt, who first recommended Panetta to President Clinton as his budget director. Panetta later became White House chief of staff.
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