DC paper Roll Call (subscription only) brings us this great tidbit:

GOP staffers are aware of just how tough a job market it is out there, but an e-mail that circulated around the Hill last week seemed to strike new fears about their career prospects. Chuck Knapp, communications director for Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), sent out a "farewell" e-mail common among job-switchers. In the message, he did the requisite thanking of colleagues and gushing over the job he was leaving. But it was a mention of Knapp's new gig that had GOP staffers worried: Knapp announced that he was pursuing an exciting new opportunity ... as the manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Andover, Kan.

"I knew times were tough for Republicans on the Hill but looks like things might be sinking to a whole new level if these are the only options we have left," said one GOP Congressional staffer.

Knapp isn't just a young, straight out of college political staffer. He's worked for Todd for seven years and been a political staffer for 17. Job prospects must be looking pretty bleak for right-wing staffers.

The U.S. House Republican Caucus -- the same people who held open votes for hours and hours so members could be strongarmed bribed convinced to vote with leadership -- is refusing to come to work after a fracas over a vote last night.

The House was in disarray this morning after angry Republicans marched off the floor late last night over manuvering by Democratic leaders that cost them a parlimentary victory on legislation involving agricultural spending. GOP lawmakers marched out about 11 p.m. last night and have not returned since, throwing into uncertainty an agenda that today was to include important votes on a massive energy bill, a defense spending bill and terrorist surveillance legislation before Congress leaves on its summer recess tomorrow. It was unclear by midday when, or if, Republicans would return. Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), a Republican insurgent, this morning called Democrats "cheaters," prompting a new eruption.

And they wonder why the American people decided they'd had enough of Republican rule.

Call Rep. Todd Tiahrt at (202) 225-6216 or Jerry Moran at (202) 225-2715 and tell them to do their jobs.

One of the biggest factors in a child's success in school and in life is his or her health. If a child's family doesn't have the money to get access to health care, that child is likely to be less healthy and, as a result, less successful.That's why there's a bipartisan push in Washington to expand the initiative that provides children from low-income families with health coverage (it's known as HealthWave in Kansas.)Reps. Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda both voted to increase the number of kids that are covered. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt told the kids "no," as did Sam Brownback who actually managed to show up to vote for once.But in one ray of sunshine, Sen. Pat Roberts voted for the Senate's proposal to expand children's health insurance. (Don't say we never write anything nice about Republicans.)President Bush has vowed to veto any expansion of children's health insurance, meaning there will need to be an override attempt once Congress sends him the final bill and once he tells America's kids to "toughen up and walk it off."

Rep. Todd Tiahrt finally felt forced to respond to The Wichita Eagle's criticism that his "Tiahrt Amendment" is tying the hands of our nation's law enforcement officials and putting them in greater danger - all for the sake of NRA dollars.

Unfortunately, his response didn't exactly address the issue. He writes:

"It is disappointing that the board apparently believes instead of erring on the side of officer safety as proposed by law enforcement professionals, Congress should step in line with the liberal politicians and media outlets that oppose the policy."

Instead of once again crying so-called liberal media "wolf" (aka not Fox news), we'd like Tiahrt to answer this:

"Tiahrt, the ATF and the Fraternal Order of Police argue that the restrictions protect the identity of undercover cops and ongoing investigations. But Tiahrt has been challenged to provide evidence that the ATF's past release of gun data endangered cops, and he has yet to produce a single example."

Oh...and we'd like his answer to this, too: