Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) managed to stir up some trouble last week at the Joint Economic Committee hearing chaired by Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.).

Testifying before the committee was Harvey Rosen, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Sanchez was evidently fed up with the contents of the hearing. “I’ve more important things to ask about than this silly Social Security thing,” she said.

At which point Saxton interrupted and said, “My constituents don’t think Social Security is silly, Loretta.”

Sanchez quickly regrouped and replied, “I should clarify. I don’t think Social Security is silly, just that the president’s proposal is ridiculous.”

Rep. Sherman sports new, hip French frames

It was news even to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) that he had made a purchase that was the least bit fashion-forward. He was spotted walking through the Speaker’s Lobby last week wearing rectangular dark brown eyeglass frames.

His last frames were plain and round, and they did not cost the $250 he paid for the new rectangular ones at Dupont Optical. Sherman offered proof that he really didn’t know what he had bought and wasn’t striving to make a fashion statement. Asked what kind of frames they were, he whipped off the glasses and began reading what sounded like the serial number: kant40452squire16.

And the reason for the fashion upgrade? “I lost the old ones,” he says.

Sherman’s fashionable frames are a metal-plastic combo, and they’re not only “top of the line” but also French, a Dupont Optical employee said.

Farewell to Blah blog

Capital Living last week featured the Blah blogger, whose site gave frustrated congressional staffers a place to vent about their jobs, bosses, etc. Immediately after the paper came out, the Blah blogger erased his site and wrote a final farewell, citing his fears that his exposure in this newspaper and by Wonkette could cause him/her and others to lose their jobs.

The anonymous blogger said he or she knew some people would think this cowardly. Hmm, we won’t go there, but we wonder if the Blah blogger really thought no one read the site until The Hill and Wonkette paid some attention.

Reps. Honda, Lofgren and Burgess set Earth Day examples

Three lawmakers are showing off their hybrid vehicles today by posing for a photograph in honor of Earth Day. The message is simple: driving a hybrid saves you money and saves the environment by cutting emissions.

Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) will display his forest-green Toyota Prius. Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Texas) drives a “seaside pearl” blue Prius, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) drives a hybrid SUV.

“It’s not just a liberal Democratic thing,” says Jay Staunton, Honda’s spokesman. “It’s bipartisan.” Honda, who previously drove a Honda sedan, turned to the Prius two years ago for the same reason Leonardo DiCaprio did — to protect the environment. (Staunton says Honda didn’t drive a Honda because of the name — “just a good car and he got it cheap.”)

Announcements

Aides wed in Indianapolis
On April 9, Abbey Blake, the communications director for Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), married Jonathan Levenshus, a legislative assistant for Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.). The couple, who met through congressional softball, took their vows in an interfaith ceremony at the Indiana statehouse. The reception was held at the Omni Severin Hotel in Indianapolis. They are on a “mini” honeymoon in California.

Aide gets engaged
Jay Staunton, communications director for Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) recently got engaged to Jessica St. John, his girlfriend of a year and a half.

The couple met in November 2003. St. John is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University; she is earning a dual master’s degree in public health and business administration. The wedding will be in June next year.

Milestones …
A reception was thrown yesterday evening for Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) to celebrate her receiving her doctorate in education from the University of Miami in December.

The reception was held in 1116 Longworth. The guest of honor was University of Miami President Donna Shalala.

More than 60 lawmakers confirmed they would stop by. A host committee threw the party, and comprised former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) and several members of the South Florida delegation.

Top 50 update

To nominate a staffer, lobbyist, lawmaker or Hill employee for the 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill, e-mail betsyr@
thehill.com or call (202) 628-8516. E-mail photographs if possible.

Edited by Betsy Rothstein
Tips, complaints and sightings:
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Elana Schor contributed to this report.