Congressional ratings have fallen to single digits; citizens believe that Congress fails to do the things its members are publicly paid to do. What does Congress do for our dollars, and how has that changed in the last 50 years? What was the cost to taxpayers for Bill Clinton's impeachment hearings? What about the Benghazi investigation and efforts to obtain the votes required to repeal Obamacare while failing to consider Zika virus funding bills? What is the true cost of earmarks? Why do Congress members continue to get paid during government shutdowns? Congress's increasing use of continuing resolutions and agencies' almost semi-annual preparations for government shutdowns come at a significant cost. Combining extensive documentary research with interviews of current and former members and staffers, The Cost of Congress assesses not only how Congress spends tax dollars on its operations but also what Americans receive for those dollars. Kunz and Atsas assign dollar values, using federal data, to congressional practices and policies. They examine the costs of producing legislation, court challenges, and Supreme Court reversals. They also look at the costs of committee and special investigations, committee assignments, staffing and facilities, and such perks as the gym, meals, and franking. Readers-taxpayers from all walks of life-will come away with a comprehensive view of the costs of operating Congress.

ItOs All Who You Know When Working the System HereOs How to Get to Know the Right People The worldOs attention turned to the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2009, when Barack Obama took the Presidential oath of office. But inside the building, changes had already taken place that would have broad implications for his agenda. The 111th Congress had convened on January 6 with a far stronger Democratic majority than the one that had preceded it. Their ambitious legislative agenda requires the assistance of their staffs to prepare them for all the important issues on the legislative table. Thus, it is more important than ever to know about senior congressional committee staff members and the role they play in shaping todayOs legislation. While members of the House of Representatives and the Senate enact laws, it is often their staffers who exert the greatest influence in the lawmaking process. Staffers advise their elected bosses, establish political positions on issues, craft legislation, put policies in place, and play important roles on scores of congressional committees. The next time you need to find out who is the most effective person to advocate your cause D turn to the InsiderOs Guide for all the answers. Overall it provides access to an important, if not very visible, component of the legislative process. Recommended-CHOICE The InsiderOs Guide to Key Committee Staff of the U.S. Congress contains in-depth profiles on key congressional staff members that you will not find elsewhere. The information provided on these personnel gives you not only the contact information and other pertinent data but also the inside track to those people. These are the staffers who work with and support the representatives and senators in various important roles that help to enact change or refine existing laws and codes that govern our nation. With all the sweeping changes that have taken place since the Obama administration took office, this essential resource has never been more important or more valuable. This new edition features over 125 new profiles and is designed to be the ultimate for quick and easy reference. The InsiderOs Guide is the leading source for information on more than 600 congressional staff members. The profiles included feature: In-depth biographical information Detailed professional history and educational background Staff membersO areas of expertise and committee role Up-to-date contact information and photograph, when available Staffers' own insights as to their committeeOs priorities and special projects during this session of Congress Organized by House, Senate, and Joint committee assignments, youOll find both the person youOre looking for and information on his or her individual impact on legislation and decision-making. With this InsiderOs Guide, youOll never again need to question who is the most effective person to advocate your cause.