Marlene's View from the Hill

November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Travels

Last Monday, I had the pleasure of traveling to the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association and addressing their annual conference at the Broadmoor. President Christine O’Donnell and her staff did an outstanding job putting together an action packed agenda and Cindy Johnson of the Broadmoor was on hand to be sure everything went smoothly at the hotel.  (The beautiful Broadmoor is also the site of our largest annual HotelPAC fundraiser.)

On Monday night, I had the honor to see Daniel Pirrallo named Colorado “Hotelier of the Year” and to see Steve Bartolin, President and CEO of the Broadmoor, inducted into the Colorado Hospitality Hall of Fame.  Both awards were well deserved.
 
On Tuesday morning, I spoke to a large group of Colorado members about the latest House and Senate legislative agenda.  At the top of my update was healthcare reform, but we also covered prospects for the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, the Travel Promotion Act, and the prospects for an immigration bill.  Bill Artist covered the Colorado state issues, which were equally challenging.  And a special note for those of you who do not know, Christine O’Donnell will be getting married right after Thanksgiving at the Broadmoor.  We wish her and her fiancé all the best! 

On Thursday, I was off to Nashville to the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association’s  meeting to brief their members on our legislative agenda.  We discussed the effects of the healthcare debate on the Congressional schedule, and how climate change, card check, and the Travel Promotion Act will fit into the Senate’s schedule over the next year.  Traveling outside of Washington gives me a first-hand perspective on what our members are thinking about, which is a welcome respite from the inside-the-Beltway thinking that permeates this city.  Walt Baker had a lot on the agenda, including the expansion of the Nashville airport and the possibility in the future of hosting World Cup Soccer.

On Saturday night, I watched the Senate take its first steps into the healthcare debate with a very close 60-39 cloture vote.  This means the Senate will be able to debate the 2,000 plus page legislation after the Senate returns and resumes its discussion on healthcare reform next week.
 
It’s my opinion that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will not be able to finish such a large and contentious bill before the end of the year, despite his promises to do so.  I see the very close vote of only 60 Democratic Senators being very hard to sustain, especially as a number of moderate Democratic and independent Senators continue to voice their objections. 

To close with a personal note, I’m celebrating my first Thanksgiving with my new husband Steve this week.  We plan to host his entire family and my mother at our home in Virginia. Indeed I will have my secret weapon handy.  No, not a secret recipe, but instead the best chef I know – my mother.  I wish each of my readers a very pleasant and bountiful Thanksgiving dinner and hope that each of us remembers how very blessed we are to live in the United States of America.