Weekly Newsletter

Caught Our Eye

A senior aide to Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) made a visit to Cuba to learn about its single-payer health care model.

Jenny Wood, the deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Bass, traveled to Cuba in December on a trip sponsored by the Medical Education Cooperation With Cuba. The $2,000-plus visit to Havana consisted of meetings with health care providers and tours of medical facilities. MEDICC advocates that "health care - especially for underserved populations - can be informed by Cuba's singular universal health system and its evolving health policies, practice, research and education."

U.S. travel to Cuba is restricted, requiring a license for those who wish to travel to the country.

Wood's boss has long leaned toward a single-payer health system, co-sponsoring a single-payer bill when she was in the California State Senate. Bass has also promoted loosening travel restrictions to Cuba, signing onto Rep. Sam Farr's (D-Calif.) March 2013 letter to President Obama that supported expanding travel to Cuba. In 2011, Bass traveled to Havana courtesy of the Center for Democracy in the Americas.

Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:

Trending Staffers› learn more

Brooke N. Ericson (current staffer) – Bravo!
Sues the prez over health perks
John D. Chapla (deceased)
Jonathan Fantini Porter (former staffer) – Bravo!
Forbes tabs for 30 under 30 list fame
Tim Prince (current staffer) – Don't Know
Erica L. Elliott (former staffer) – Bravo!
Moves up Pennsylvania Ave. for law firm gig

Hill Hires

Kate Paul, Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Executive Assistant
Jessica Naomi Seale, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Digital Director
Lauren Orndorff, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Scheduler

Hill Departures

Elizabeth Rish Jungman, now Director, Drug Safety and Innovation for Pew Charitable Trusts, formerly Senior Health Policy Adviser to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Andrew C. Hardy (Andy), now Director of Public Affairs for Finance Fund, formerly Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
Tyler J. Kruzich, now Environmental Analyst for Air, Safety and Security for Chevron Corp., formerly Budget Analyst for Energy and Environment to Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Hill Moves and Promotions

Jodie R. Torkelson, now Chief of Staff for Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN)
(formerly Deputy Chief of Staff)
Michael D. Fleischman, now Legislative Director for Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
(formerly Senior Legislative Assistant)
Justin Mauricio Unga, now Communications Director for Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)
(formerly Communications Director to Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ))

Revolvers

Hana Leah Greenberg,
Lobbies for: Blank Rome Government Relations LLC
Most recent congressional employment: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Jason Christopher Lallis,
Lobbies for: Active Policy Solutions LLC
Most recent congressional employment: Sen. Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Housing, Transportation and Community Development Subcommittee
Christopher Matthew Sagely (Matt),
Lobbies for: Normandy Group LLC
Most recent congressional employment: Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

Top hashtags of the week

#renewui – (519 mentions)
#obamacare – (428 mentions)
#waronpoverty – (197 mentions)
#goldenglobes – (154 mentions)
#aca – (101 mentions)