Announcements – February 18, 2009

 sponsored by the Congressional Federal Credit Union

Arts, fashion? Politics is ‘so much cooler’

Aketa Simmons recently began her new job as press secretary for freshman Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio).

Previously,
Simmons worked for the Tennessee House of Representatives’ Speaker pro
tempore. “The great thing about that job was that we had unrestricted
access to information and briefings,” Simmons said. “Also we played pop
music all day on Fridays, which are no-vote days in Tennessee, to close
out the week.”

Simmons’s favorite aspect of her job so far is that her
colleagues are so smart and lighthearted. “Of course, there are always
deadlines, tough decisions and serious meetings, but they handle it all
with a smile,” she said. “My second-favorite thing is being so close to
the cafeteria.”

The best advice Simmons has received about her new job is to
keep a detailed list of press requests and take the time to think
through her strategic press plan.

If she weren’t working on Capitol Hill, Simmons says, she could
see herself in television or media development for an arts nonprofit or
a fashion house. “Politics, though, is so much cooler,” she said.

NEW MEMBER COFFMAN GETS LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT

Stephen
Beck recently began his new job as a legislative assistant in domestic
policy to freshman Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.). Beck works on small
business, tax, education and healthcare issues.

“I’ve really enjoyed being so busy all the time, especially with a new member,” Beck said. “I feel really involved.”
Previously, Beck worked with Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) as a
legislative assistant. If he weren’t working on Capitol Hill, Beck
would be a high school U.S. history teacher.

BIRTHDAYS:

 Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) — Feb. 19, 1948 — age 61
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) — Feb. 19, 1948 — age 61
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — Feb. 20, 1942 — age 67
Charles Boustany Jr. (R-La.)– Feb. 21, 1956 — age 53
Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) — Feb. 21, 1949 — age 60
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) — Feb. 21, 1940 — age 69
Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) — Feb. 21, 1958 — age 51
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) — Feb. 21, 1947 — age 62
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) — Feb. 22, 1932 — age 77
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Texas) — Feb. 23, 1951 — age 58
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) — Feb. 24, 1942 — age 67