As Congress scrambled to finish up before summer vacation, I talked to House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri. Like all minorities in the House of recent vintage, the House GOP is getting steamrolled on vote after vote. But Blunt says he's happy with his party's positioning.
The Democratic majority has moved through a minimum wage increase and ethics reform--two critical elements of their attempt to demonstrate change from Republican rule. But efforts to pass energy legislation remain incomplete, with Democrats internally divided over new auto fuel efficiency standards. Democratic efforts to raise taxes on private equity firms and hedge fund managers haven't yet born fruit, with the politically savvy Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York leading efforts to stand in the way.