Does the ‘Motion to Recommit’ keep you on the edge of your seat and your eyes glued to C-SPAN? Do you even know what a Motion to Recommit [or MTR as the policy wonks call it] is? If you don’t, trust me, you’re not alone … if you do, well, there’s a high probability that the Politico will do a write-up on you.
Even if you’re not fascinated by House floor proceedings [and most of you aren’t] you need to check out the Politico Pros Profile today of Neil Bradley and Mike Sommers.
And here.
Bradley, the top policy aide to House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Sommers, the top policy aide to Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), lead a team of leadership and committee staffers who are always looking for new ways to stymie the party in power.
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This often takes the form of a motion to recommit, a once-overlooked procedural vote that Republicans harnessed during their first year in the minority to tweak bills on the floor, upend legislation entirely and put Democrats on the record on sensitive subjects such as taxes, gun control and immigration.
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Bradley and Sommers often travel as a pair, and they share a calm, decisive manner that projects authority – and good humor – without ruffling feathers. [Apparently easier to do when residing in the Minority]
The article goes on to include this quote: [Attention young aspiring lobbyists, check out the A-game displayed by Sam Geduldig:]
“A lot of staff on the Hill resemble their boss, for better and for worse,” said Sam Geduldig, a lobbyist who worked for Blunt and helped Boehner raise money early in his career. “Neil resembles Roy Blunt in that he’s always the most well-prepared guy in the room and often the smartest. Meanwhile, Boehner has a way of making everything he does look easy. Mike shares that with him. You walk away from a meeting with Mike wanting to work harder to make something a success. Boehner is like that, too.”
Famous Readers, Geduldig managed to kiss up to both former bosses in the same article and same quote – a skill you don’t learn until you take the Advanced Washington Lobbying Course (it’s a 300 level course).
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