Arizona Insurance

The Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies Continues to the science of self-insurance prices; extended Discount Driving pilot in Arizona and Florida driver Giving the capacity of economies to 15 percent of their premiums

Many seek assurances self-estimation of annual mileage customers to apply for a new policy; Up Front these estimates generally have a minimal impact on the entire premium. And this is not to challenge, updating course lectures, performances over time. But what if your insurance company you are asked to report accurate readings performance over time and this way you can control how much you pay for auto insurance by controlling the number of miles do you spend?

In February 2006, The Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies announced a pilot program in Iowa and Virginia, the pilot was able to do just that, today, the program expanded to Arizona and Florida . The program is available for private car customers.

Many Arizonans are increasingly a short break this year on their auto insurance cheaper than motorists responsible, do you have opted for the driver irresponsible by an increase in premiums.

This is James Frederikson, Executive Director of the Arizona Insurance Information Association. It gathers and disseminates information about insurance rates and security issues.

“Drivers have shown that the responsibilities are easier to identify and, therefore, they pay less for their insurance, then they have in the past,” he said. “Another factor is people recognize that Arizona is a state in which dangerous driving

Despite all the fanfare of the President of the Confederation of regulatory authorities in the economies of recent bailouts diseased organs, the mounting evidence that, just papering over the serious problems plaguing the industry.

Despite all the fanfare of the President of the Confederation of regulatory authorities in the economies of recent bailouts diseased organs, the mounting evidence that, just papering over the serious problems plaguing the industry.

There is growing concern among industry leaders, academics and even some regulatory authorities that the new owners of the reconstituted unit economies have little or no money in their own risk and peril. But they are likely to benefit if the institutions turned, while the government faces the most risk, if it is not.

At the same time, new institutions are cast remains low, and some are picked up by the son proved that the lack of records.

Realizing that deals offer few incentives for new owners try to eliminate them effectively to loans outstanding, they inherit, critics warn that the offers are nothing but postpone the date billing . The delay, they say, only add that the ultimate cleanup costs taxpayers is certainly to pay. ‘Not really a solution ”

The surveillance is the Federal Home Loan Bank Relief Board, which governs institutions and economies is the parent company and the Federal Savings Loan Insurance Corporation, the insurance savings.

”They have not really been able to win private capital in any form sizable,’’said William L. Seidman, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, provides communication deposits. ”I am not too critical about it, but this is not really to find a solution.”

The bailouts are part of an attempt to control the mounting crisis in the savings and credit industry. In recent years, hundreds of institutions become insolvent Germany - souring victims of the local economy, bad practices and lending, in some cases, actually fraud. But most institutions maroden Texas and Oklahoma, where regulatory authorities have recently begun carrying out their greatest efforts to save time - known as South West-plan.

If the regulatory authorities may be revealed in this year’s plan, they said their intention was for private investors to inject some of its own capital. But seven transactions announced during the last month, three have obtained, not in cash by investors. Among the other four, the new owners have some funds, but it is tiny compared to the size of units acquired.

In the case of Gibson / Last financial acquisition of 12 units economies in Texas, $ 48 million was sufficient for $ 3.1 billion in assets. In the case of Mera Bank of Arizona to the acquisition of three institutions, only $ 28 million bought control of nearly $ 1 billion in assets.

The capital is the pool of funds to mitigate future losses, and its existence acts as a player management. A level of capital to the tune of 3 percent of the asset is treated as an absolute minimum. In deals announced so far, we have a level well above the reference value of 3 percent, while some have no capital forever. The coverage of future losses

More disturbing than the small amount of new money is taken, say critics of the plan of the south-west, east, as few of them are in danger. The Bank is committed on board to cover a large portion of losses that may result from the difference between the interest of new owners earn on their loans and the interest they must pay for deposits.

The Bank has also promised to board a lot of recovery of capital, is decimated, if the assets are losing their value. These agreements work as long as 10 years, making it impossible to provide an estimate of the final cost for the FSLIC

An exception to this open-ended commitment, they come from a group headed by William E. Simon, former Secretary General of the treasury. It expressed its willingness to swallow losses of $ 35 million on the two institutions, it has acquired, California. But, Mr Simon group is not really about their own money at risk, either because the financing of their acquisitions increased by $ 207 million in public securities.

Direction: The Bush plan calls bailout institutions savings for the dismantling of three members of Federal Home Loan Bank Board and place it under the treasury. And since the passage seems almost sure, some members are beginning to do.

The Bush plan calls bailout institutions savings for the dismantling of three members of Federal Home Loan Bank Board and place it under the treasury. And since the passage seems almost sure, some members are beginning to do.

Roger F. Martin, came to the bank board, almost two years ago after as Senior Vice President of the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation of Milwaukee, is the first to leave. His departure tomorrow will be the end of an era important policy within the Agency provides that the rate of savings and loan industry. Mr. Martin was one of the masters of the south-west of the so-called plan that attempts to consolidate the sick economies in the institutions of Texas and neighboring states and finding new investors capital.

Mr Martin, 61, was also the driving force behind the sale of the country’s largest savings institution bankrupt American Savings Housing Association of Stockton, California, Robert M. Bass, a financier Fort Worth. In addition, estimates of M. Martin, like a lot of money from the industry savings should be earmarked to cover their losses and failures have been significantly higher than that covered by the Bank Board Chairman, Mr. Danny wall.

Few M. Martin door forerunner of the Bank has lent its board or the Agency immediate praise. Many have been criticized as gifts are not enough new capital and offers generous tax breaks for Wall Street financiers.

But countries with man of Mequon, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee, did not seem fazed. In a broad interview with Nathaniel C. Nash, a journalist in the Washington bureau of The New York Times, Mr. Martin has held the discussion and asserts that the Bush bailout plan was woefully insufficient to stop the problem of savings and loans of 500 patients. Question: start with your reaction to the Bush plan. Is it $ 50 billion loan to pay enough for the closure of 500 existing institutions insolvent? Martin: I would say that it must be an additional $ 30 billion beyond. Perhaps a more than $ 40 billion. It all depends on how it deals. For example, at the moment, we have approximately $ 70 billion in value bad fortune. I would say that we are 50 per cent and 60 per cent over the problem. This means that the period during which we completed, we have more than $ 120 billion in assets under our control institutions insolvent.

At the moment we have recovered more than 30 cents for every dollar. So if you are talking about $ 120 billion fortune, it goes at the expense of $ 84 billion. Question: So the Bush plan is briefly above $ 34 billion? Mr. Martin: That is correct. And beyond, you have a view on the cost of implementation, averaging about 3.5 billion dollars per year. It boils rapidly. Question: Would you say that, after a few years, the Bush administration will be at Congress and say:”We do not have enough money.”M. Martin: Yes. And that is why the Democrats, they also play build. You know, if the operation works, they can say,”Hey, we spent.”And if it does not work, they will dire”Hey, Where’s George?”And unfortunately, it could come right before polling day.

The other, it is also worrying is that during the real estate market in some parts of Texas is more and more, Arizona is now completely lost, quite far. Since the plan Bush is gone until I think we still have an additional $ 6 billion in losses. Question: Do you think that since February 6, when President Bush announced his bailout plan, the Bank Board found that the actual losses in Arizona are 6 billion, more than ever adopted? Mr. Martin: That is correct. And there is no question, we are now a number of things in California. The San Francisco Home Loan Bank during the past 30 days has increased its estimates of its losses on its future, and three times she went up to 450 percent of their district. Question: Many people say that the Resolution Trust Corporation, is overseeing the liquidation and sale of sick savings and loans funds, is an impossible task. Would you welcome the offer? Mr. Martin: Only when I have enough money paid, and I had a tank. Question: What do you mean by that? Mr. Martin: Well, it should not be a very appreciated. The reason is that many people angry.

Direction: Good, the acquisition of Phoenix-minded savings bank, Mera Bank FSB, today was the first financial institution outside of Texas to invest in this state of the maroden savings and credit industry under a federal program.

A healthy, the acquisition of Phoenix-minded savings bank, Mera Bank FSB, today was the first financial institution outside of Texas to invest in this state of the maroden savings and credit to the industry under a federal program.

Several analysts have indicated that the transaction was crucial for the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Agency are not been successful so far in the acquisition of Out-of-National Capital in economies Texas-ravaged industry. Two previous acquisitions announced by the Bank in his office in southwestern plan has only $ 3.5 million in capital, all in an economy Houston institution.

”This shows that the South-West has few real terms of substance,’’said James Causey, Senior Vice President of Kaplan, Smith & Associates, an industry consulting firm in Washington. ”I did not find any better for the bank to do business on board.”5 years has doubled in size

Mera Bank, which has size over the past five years, control of two savings associations maroden, First Financial El Paso Federal Savings and Brownfield, West Texas in rural areas, with a collective $ 350 million assets. The transactions were least as many analysts expected, but the Bank Mera agreed to acquire at least $ 650 million in assets of one or more institutions by the end of September Texas.

The institution of Phoenix, $ 27.8 million in fresh capital in a new subsidiary, the Bank Mera Texas, on the assumption that you will succeed, $ 1 billion in assets, which ultimately be acquired by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation Agency deposit guarantee for the nation’s savings and credit industry. The sum was invested $ 8.8 million today, $ 19 million, more mature, more if the second stage of treatment is finished.

Gene E. Rice, Chairman and Chief Executive, said Mera Bank hoped to earn more worried savings institutions in the FSLIC transactions, and perhaps negotiated independently offers of the Bank board.

Mera bank, with $ 6.4 billion in assets at the end of the first quarter, mainly through acquisitions. He earned $ 29.1 million in 1987, but lost $ 12.4 million this year’s first quarter, partly because of their problems in mortgage subsidiary of the company, “said Rice. Mera’s net banking income was worth $ 424.2 million at the end of March, or nearly 7 percent of total commitments.

The Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, the parent company of the largest public service in his country of origin, Arizona utilities, Mera Bank acquired late in the year 1986. Pinnacle West is also the largest companies based in Arizona.

Mr Rice said Mera Bank plan was to build their assets in Texas, according to its size in Arizona over the next 20 years. ”We believe that Texas has reached bottom and is on the way back,”he said, referring to the state of the economy, employment has gradually since early 1987 after the major reductions in the petroleum, real estate and building industry.

Mr Rice added that sei”ein right place for a good and solid financial institutions play a role in the reconstruction of Texas.”He added:”We are very pleased to be part of it. ”

Roger Martin, a member of the Bank board, told journalists in Dallas, that the Agency estimate their costs to cover losses in the two institutions today would be sold about $ 83 million over the next 10 years.

The F.S.L.I.C. Mera Bank Texas A 10-year note for $ 38.2 million in interest payable quarterly, on the average cost ways to achieve savings and associations in Texas. It also guarantees to cover losses on assets Delinquent the two institutions, totaling $ 99.1 million. Partners in a limited way

In a way Mera Bank and the FSLIC is a partner of the transaction announced today, a condition that makes possible the Agency again a part of their cost estimate of $ 83 million.

The next stop for Senator Bob Dole’s presidential campaign in the USA Capitol, where heads of the majority hopes that burnish his reputation, to do things with action on other fronts-law - of immigration in the ‘insurance.

Even before the introduction of quotas for elections on Republican nomination with eight primary victories Tuesday, Mr. Dole clearly he has no intention of resigning as majority leader in this campaign full time in the country. There is obviously no dispute on its decision. Senator Trent Lott, his deputy, Tuesday, that he would be prepared, the duration of the position that Mr. Dole was elected.

I am eager to return to work, “said Senator today in Houston,” because we have a lot to do in the Senate. We must collectively on a balanced budget, if we can. The American people want not interested, it is an election year, if it helps, Bill Clinton or Bob Dole. And I would like, if these things are completed. ”

Whether it exclude, step-down as majority leader, Mr. Dole replied: “I never decided, in” The question of whether it would do if he won the Republican nomination, he said: “Oh, I do not think that far ahead. Je ne not want to think about it, what could Jinx what we are - we are on this small role And now I would not say that all messed up “.

H. Senator John Chafee, Republican of Rhode Island, said that Mr. Dole is “gives him great control over the agenda.” Given that the Kansan has campaigned on a record performance, “said Chafee, who was the only way it could have repercussions on adding to his record. In addition, he said, even if Mr. Dole has occurred, it would always be the blame for any failure of the Senate, he would still not a lot of risks.

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, added another consideration: money. Mr. Dole’s presidential campaign approaches the limit of $ 37 million for expenses relating to the appointment, Senate, but the activity is a means for television.

“Whenever we do something, it can rightly front of the cameras and claim credit for it,” said McCain. If you have money, there are a lot of value to media freedom. ”

So far this year, the Senate did nothing to say, unless the credit for billing to tighten sanctions against Cuba. In fact, it was Mr. Dole campaign schedule has resulted in what the Senate to meet only 24 days, 5 of them for a few minutes. But on the road, Mr. Dole was much more promising things in general and too quickly to take action on a bill on health insurance portable form of employment change.

Another major effort, Dole said today aid will come to an action to enable the President to veto individual sections of spending, which makes it apply the veto or sign the entire action.

The plan, the so-called line-item veto during the last year was very different forms of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Participants at the conference cheaper to reach a compromise, and President Bill Clinton another weapon in the fight against the budget. But spokesman M. Dole and Speaker Newt Gingrich said today that the conference said would reach an agreement.

Calendar program of the legislative procedure, it exists on paper but in fact a general rule, is uncertain and that the expenditure and assured them of the debt limit of the action this month.

The group Continental, an insurance company in the midst of rebuilding their financial strength, said yesterday that it was profitable from the sale of a Workers’ Compensation insurance subsidiary in Fremont General Corporation for $ 250 million .

Continental is also on the sidelines of the announcement of an agreement to collect $ 200 million of additional capital from outside investors, financiers of the company said.

The announced sale of accident insurance, a specialist from Chicago to Workers’ Compensation, is the latest in a series of movements Continental to conserve cash and the sale of a portion of their business. Continental executives declined to say how much profit the company would obtain from the sale.

Casualty Insurance collected $ 362 million of premiums during the past year, especially in Illinois and in nearby countries. It amounted to less than half the Workers’ Compensation business in continental Europe and only about 8 percent of its total turnover. The acquisition is almost two times higher than the Workers’ Compensation business of Fremont General, already active in this market in California and Arizona.

Donors, in discussions with Continental, said, on condition of anonymity, said the company expects to announce, as soon as they had found investors willing to provide $ 200 million of additional capital. Half of this sum would come in stock purchased by insurance Partners, an investment group managed by Chase Manhattan Bank. Besides banks, investors are in the group by Robert Bass and the Centre reinsurance company.

The other 100 million would come from the sale of preferred shares to another group of investors, including operations of Zurich Reinsurance Centre Holdings Inc., Central and reinsurance AON Corporation, a Chicago insurer.

Continental, whose headquarters is in New York, went to the notice on the status of their negotiations with investors or changes in management plans. John P. Mascotte, CEO of Continental, it is expected that this position.

Continental-share trade yesterday ended unchanged at $ 13625 at the New York Stock Exchange, while the share of Fremont General were also unchanged at $ 24.

During recent weeks, Continental has eliminated its dividend on shares save $ 55 million per year, a Canadian subsidiary sells for $ 155 million and announced plans to cut 2000 jobs, or 16 per cent of its hand-d ‘work.

A $ 100 million investment in continental Europe on the closing price yesterday, would be equal to 7.3 million shares, or nearly 12 percent of 62.7 million shares to be outstanding. The share of firms by new investors would be based on the price of shares purchased and other agreements of the company to effect the release of additional storage.

Continental has been plagued for years of claims and charges higher than the industry average. In the first half of the year, the company lost $ 84 million, including a special $ 45 million for reorganization expenses.

Insufficient capital gains and a shrinking base, Moody’s Investors Service to pay claims below Continental Rating last month to A-3 A-2, with a warning that the company has remained during the year Other reductions.

Direction: the legislature sometimes describe as vultures, but hundreds of lobbyists who boarded the long marble corridor on the first floor of the Capitol today and at the height of bronze statutes of the State to men of the times past has been rather like a flock of pigeons hungry.

Legislators sometimes describe as vultures, but hundreds of lobbyists who boarded the long marble corridor on the first floor of the Capitol today and at the height of bronze statutes of the State to men periods of the past has been rather like a flock of pigeons hungry.

These are thin times for the industry, associations and other Special Interest groups, whose fortune, which will be or are not in the tax bill that the House Ways and Means Committee is now weaving and their contribution to deficit reduction.

This year, as Congress struggles Slash from $ 500 billion deficit of 1995, the challenge for most lobbyists are not covered by certain advantages for their clients, but to ensure that the benefits that they already have.

Even for the causes of lobbyists who target the neediest people facing an upsurge of fighting. ”To a certain extent, we are just more formal policy, with which this bill,’’said a lobbyist works Issues in Health Care.

Common Bond in distress

At this point, lobbyists representing a wide range of common interests borrowing have found in their destiny.

”The only thing we’ve noticed is that $ 500 billion is ugly, as you do,’’said Ken Keis, a former Republican tax consultancy of the Committee on Ways and Means pressure now , On behalf of insurance and real estate groups. ”It is difficult to find someone, it’s not a problem with this package, and he believes that both the developments that you have perhaps a more secure and the problems ahead.”

As Mr. Keis described the distress of insurance companies, it would be the targets of a major tax increase under the plan, which the Committee proposes, Barbara Thompson, a lobbyist for the National Council of State agencies to housing , Made the mistake until a piece of paper with numbers on.

Suddenly formally by the opinions of colleagues, lobby agitated, thought it had genuine information on the Committee, they fought to be heard on the excitement. ”No, no,’’she said. ”It is our own table, an analysis of the impact of the alternative minimum tax on the Low Income Housing Credit.”

On the other side of the corridor, around a statue of cinema Eusebio Francisco, Arizona, a historian, were lobbyists, working on a law independent of textiles, to come later in the day. ”I have always wondered why lobbyists are closed outside a consultation room,’’said Dave Brody, shakes his head when he interviewed quantity. Mr. Brody, 40, a veteran of the patrol corridor, said his days of receipt of lines of work has been completed and work phone was his preferred method of legislators.

It is important

But a pharmaceutical lobbyist, spoke, but under the condition of anonymity, said that while it was obvious that nothing would be the result of lobbying Vigil, right here was important. ”First, it’s billable time,’’she said. ”And secondly, you do not want the customer to call and say, ‘What do you mean they were not on the means and avenues committee? “”

Susan Dahlquist, a lobbyist for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, was later, when she was told by a journalist that the Ways and Means body could order $ 20 billion of reductions for the part of the program Medicare, a direct impact on beneficiaries.

”But they told us 12,’’she said, beating their fists in the shoulder friendly Geoffrey Peterson, a schnapps lobbyist of the industry. I knew.” I knew he would do it is there for me. They can not leave these boys for one minute.”

Mr. Peterson, but believed he had good news. ”We are a dollar - a dollar sign in Rosty’s plan”, he created and refers to representative Dan Rostenkowski, Democrats, Illinois warheads and the means Committtee. But the version of the plan made available to the committee showed today, taxes on spirits, $ 1.50 per bottle, exactly the same level recommended in the budget agreement rejected by the House last week.

Direction: Two years after having contributed to the purchase of an insolvent bank Oklahoma Federal regulatory authorities, a former adviser to George Bush has invested $ 100000 to a federal official in the negotiation of the Bank seize, public documents and participants the quantity.

Two years after having contributed to the purchase of an insolvent bank Oklahoma Federal regulatory authorities, a former adviser to George Bush has invested $ 100000 to a federal official in the negotiation of the Bank seize, public records and participants in the quantity.

Investments in January 1989 by former Bush adviser, Robert J. Thompson, a partnership was under the direction of Paul G. Heafey, and was the day Mr. Heafey resignation as head of the liquidation of the Oklahoma Bureau of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The investment financing from a company James M. Fail, an Arizona businessman. It was Mr. Fail, purchased the bank insolvent Oklahoma in 1987, when he does not meet Federal standards for such an acquisition. The bank $ 100 million in assets, was sold for $ 526000, while it borrowed.

Series of Dealings

The publication is the latest in a series on business relationships with Mr. Fail and Mr. Thompson, a lobbyist, a legislative resolution was assistant to Mr. Bush during part of his first term as Vice President.

Thompson has contributed, Mr Fail as a lobbyist in Oklahoma and a bank Deal 1988 purchase of 15 failed savings and loan associations of the Federal Republic Home Loan Bank Board, which was Blue Bonnet Savings Bank Dallas. The store was put forward, even if Mr. Fail-legal problems has been provided a bank disqualifier””unter board rules.

The accuracy of these acquisitions and investments Mr. Thompson’s are considered by a subcommittee of the Senate.

Thompson’s investments with Mr. Heafey is not prohibited conflict between the government-of-Interest laws. But the subcommittee of the Senate for the right of cartels, monopolies and enterprises and the rights of the Arizona Department of Insurance to examine whether the financing of investments by a failure of M. insurance companies, harvesting Life Insurance, rules of the State could not, according to the certificate public and heads of government officials. The loan, for a total of $ 150000, came two weeks after the failure Mr. be closed with the bank.

Mr. Thompson and Mr. Fail to be interviewed rejected. Mr. Heafey, reached in his office in Oklahoma City, said a journalist he is not giving interviews.

In the past, a spokesman for Mr. Fail and Mr. Thompson, Lance Morgan, said that the loan was routine and that Mr. Thompson’s appeal to the regulatory authorities have been correct.

The partnership, National Loan investors, buys credits from the suffering of federal authorities, including the FDIC M. Heafey Agency has received the approval of lawyers for business credit Buying if not involved with his former office in Oklahoma City, according to officials and documents agency.

At an affordable price

The first phase of sale of the bank insolvent United Oklahoma M. Fail not with Mr. Heafey. Its relations with Mr. failure and his collaborators began in the second phase, when the Bank’s assets have been liquidated by the FDIC

A failure by Mr. Associated companies, an investor from New York, Edwin A. Locke Jr., the first president of the new bank, said that Mr. $ 526000 failure of the FDIC, the Bank was the best offer obtained by the regulatory authorities and that it is a good price for the buyer.

Agency officials said the price was lower than the normal rate over the period of suffering for a bank because of the large number of banks flooding the market failures in Oklahoma. Alan J. Whitney, a F.D.I.C. Spokesman said today that the rates paid by Mr. Fail was slightly lower than the average buyer paid the banks of Oklahoma in 1986 and 1987.

After the sale of the bank to Mr. Fail, Mr. Heafey negotiates the sale of various assets in possession of the FDIC Public Registry on asset prices and Mr. Heafey optioned sells his subordinates or M. Fail is not available.

The inherited fortune

The assets of the F.D.I.C. inherited after the acquisition of the bank insolvent Oklahoma City, including buildings, two banking subsidiaries, credit and a delay of a large bloc of another camp Oklahoma bank says Locke and other participants in the process.

The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, found in 1988 in a study that the rate of recovery in bulk sales of assets by the FDIC’s office in Oklahoma City in 1987, 18 cents on the dollar, a Third recovery in sales offices in Denver and Omaha, on average 54 cents. The G.A.O. Study, in which only three offices, said some differences because of the number of loans in the region of Oklahoma.

Mr. Heafey’s ready to invest in the partnership was September 1988, several months before he leaves office but there is no evidence he was active until the infusion of capital M. Thompson and other investors, according to public records. Mr. Fail is not in partnership discs. $ 150000 Loan Heafey The Lord’s Day at the head of the Office of partnership, Jan. 6, 1989, a Tulsa bank foreign exchange to Mr. Thompson for $ 150,000 The loan was amended by an agreement of the harvest to pay the note of life, within two months. Harvest bought the ticket two months later, the discs. Thompson has made its first payments of interest on the note during the last two months after a request from Senator M. Howard Metz tree, the Ohio Democrat, after the man in the transaction. Mr. Metz-en-ciel Subcommittee of the authorities of the implementation of investigations in Fail-Thompson-relationship.

As senators paraded before television cameras on Wednesday last, in a political struggle for the high above the ground national health insurance, assistance has worked behind the scenes on draft Republican.

They met daily last week, with Richard G. Darman, the White House director, and with the heads of the sponsors of the legislation: Senators Bob Dole of Kansas, leaders of the minority, John H. Chafee of Rhode Island; Dave Durenberger of Minnesota and Arizona John McCain. If the bill was announced at a press conference on Thursday, television, spectators saw several legislators credit, but they have received no evidence of efforts by Sheila Burke, M. Dole’s chief of staff. The cult of anonymity Congressional aid has remained intact.

The 40 years of Ms. Burke, earns $ 88000 a year, is one of the most influential of more than 19000 staff members of Congress on Capitol Hill, whose 7200 work in the Senate and 12150 in the house. Most legislators are personal Staffs, and include legislative, administrative and assistant secretary aid and clerical. Much of their work is almost invisible, except for a handful of Washington insiders, but whenever a moment sichverschwören circumstances putting them in the light of these issues.

Viewers of justice for the confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas, for example, was a group of aid after the Congressional senators, whispering advice and handing over their heads arc of issues. Aufgeblähten and abuse?

President Bush is focusing on them rather than attention last month when he criticized the conference, it was suggested that the staff of an inflated 40000 workers. Indeed, as the Library of Congress, Capitol police, the General Accounting Office and other systems are the number at just over 31000 - roughly the same as a decade before.

Individuals Hill “, as they are known in Washington, including securities, as the Senate last month agreed to extend the offer of discrimination laws to its staff, strengthening the impression that they have been abused by a population with many benefits, but only a few rights. The Assembly had set the procedure relating to the fight against prejudices against its own employees.

Many come on Capitol Hill costs of college, but young people experienced, but without real power influential idealistic, but compromises. Within a few hours, it may be invited to a bill and bring the head of the laundry, serve as a sounding board policy and driver, to negotiate a compromise and the color of the head of an apartment . Your chances are more psychological than financial. It is their lack of job security, most earn $ 20000 to $ 40000 per year and 12 hours a day, are usual. Behind closed doors

But some have an impressive influence, especially in the field camera, the door closed during the negotiations. Shortly before the Senate a bill, citizens’ rights, last Wednesday, Senator John C. Danforth, Republican of Missouri, has increased praises Dennis Shea, an aide said he had negotiated a compromise with the White House, said: “It was, above all, because its efforts, we have all the Convention. ”

Indeed, some members felt that rescuers were too powerful and too dependent on their heads among them. “I’m getting too damn tired by the members, it can not go anywhere without staff,” Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Democrat of Texas, said as he flâné on the hand-Capitol lawn scattered recently. “They do not know the problems themselves.”

In Congress elections hierarchy, staff higher than the committee is a member of staff, perhaps because the experts in different themes such as disarmament and wetlands. Many of them for a few years on Capitol Hill before joining the bureaucracy, a centre of law firm or a professional association. Some politicians have finally, judges or regulatory authorities.

And some make a return on Capitol Hill. Three of the four first congress began his career as assistant: Thomas S. House Foley spokesman in Washington, Senator George J. Mitchell of Maine, most of the heads and representatives of Robert H. Michel of Illinois, leader of the house minority.