Life as Rep. Schmidt’s press aide: not boring

What is it like to be Rep. Jean Schmidt’s (R-Ohio) press secretary right now?

For John Ashbrook, who has held the title for the freshman lawmaker since August, it has been a pretty hectic couple of weeks in the wake of her critical comments about Vietnam veteran Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.).

“Our phones are ringing all over the place,” he said. “We’ve definitely had more media inquiries this week than we did last week. It’s predominantly Washington and Cincinnati.”

Asked how he’s faring with the rush of media inquiries and constituent calls, he said, “It’s been different, but we’ve adapted. The majority of the calls are coming from out of the district. The calls from the district are actually 75 percent supportive of her.”

Of the calls that have not been supportive, Ashbrook refused to say what exactly has been said of his boss, though he did acknowledge that some of the calls have degenerated into name-calling. “We have gotten some calls that weren’t great, people disagreeing with what she said. We’ve had some calls that have been pretty negative.”

What is the office policy on negative calls?

“We just politely take their comment,” Ashbrook said. “Sometimes the people just want to register a comment and move on, and sometimes people continue to want to talk. The people who answer the phones have really tried to be polite.”

Ashbrook added that all the comments are relayed to Schmidt.

Boswell still recovering from abdominal surgery

Where is Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) these days? Although it’s tough to get an answer out of Susan Makevoy, the congressman’s press secretary (she said she’d get back to ITK but did not), Iowa press reports indicate that Boswell, 71, has had abdominal surgery and is recovering.

“I’m not in a position to talk,” Makevoy said when asked about her boss’s health, though she did not make it clear whether she meant she was in a meeting or whether she was unable to provide the information.

According to an Iowa newspaper report, Boswell had a noncancerous tumor removed from his abdomen in September at Washington Hospital Center. Although the tumor is noncancerous, the report said that chemotherapy was used “as a cleansing agent” to ensure that all “problematic cells” are removed.

According to the Library of Congress, Boswell has not cast a roll-call vote since Sept. 15. Republicans are targeting Boswell, who is considered one of the most politically vulnerable Democrats in the 2006 cycle.

On the Thursday before Thanksgiving recess, the House voted on the budget-reconciliation bill. When the vote was winding down, the tally was 215 against to 212 for.

Reporters grilled Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) in the Speaker’s lobby on which Republicans had not voted on the legislation.

Emerson remarked that two lawmakers in particular, Mary Bono (Calif.) and Connie Mack (Fla.), were MIA, causing reporters who have known of their recent romance to snicker. In response, Emerson told at least one reporter it was “tacky” to snicker about them. The pair, along with a few other Republicans who were late, eventually showed up to the vote, and both voted for the legislation, which ultimately passed, 217-215.

New PAC sets its sights on impeaching Bush, Cheney

ImpeachPAC, a political action committee, launched earlier this month. But there is a serious catch: It only supports candidates who favor the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney for what it says are their “Iraq war lies.”

In the latest news on the PAC, the organization has announced its first endorsement, which goes to Tony Trupiano in his bid to unseat Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). Trupiano is to receive $2,500.

During a recent Q&A session, Trupiano was asked to name the first three pieces of legislation he would introduce if elected to Congress. Sure enough, the second, which involved impeaching the president and veep, made such a splash that he didn’t make it to the third. His first bill would tackle the minimum wage.

David Swanson, the D.C. director of the group, explains that there are strict criteria that must be followed to receive any money from the group.

“We have to believe you,” he said.

Another mandate is that the candidate must already have the endorsement of a progressive political action committee, such as the 21st Century Democrats or Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-Calif.) PAC for a Change.

Sighting: Billy Bush emcees for Capital Club’s 25th anniversary

Among the perks of attending the Capital Club’s recent 25th anniversary party at the City Tavern Club in Georgetown was seeing Billy Bush (as in the president’s first cousin) of “Access Hollywood” in the full glory of what he does best: playing host.

The smooth-voiced Bush emceed the evening of heavy drinking and major celebrating of the club’s longtime existence.

Members who attended, such as former club President Tripp Donnelly, said that Bush was not treated as the big TV star that he is. “You have to remember that a lot of people in that room knew him from before his fame, if you will,” Donnelly said.

Bush, who spoke of being a more active member of the club in his “younger and single” days, dressed down for the evening, meaning jacket, no tie.

Donnelly added, “It was a reprieve for Billy to be amongst friends, where he could let his hair down a bit.” Of course, not too down. His wife and children, who live in California, could not make the party, but he did attend with his brother.

One attendee remarked, “I’ve not seen 140 guys laughing that hard for 45 minutes ever.”

In addition to Bush, there was also Ozzy Osbourne, the rocker, who attended via a video message.

Osbourne had some comedic, congratulatory words for the crowd. Donnelly said, “Though some of Ozzy’s comments were a bit hard to understand, let’s just say the stuff we did understand was absolutely hilarious.

In addition to Bush and Osbourne, every president in the club’s history was in attendance, a total of 20 guys.

“I am humbled to be part of such a heritage of hooliganism,” said John Goodwin, the club’s vice president for 2006.