How bloggers, lobbyists can cover Congress from home

Back in the 1970s and 1980s when I was editor of Modern Healthcare and had one and then two reporters working for me in our Washington bureau, I pined to be there. I wanted to dig for stories that I knew we were missing and not breaking. I couldn't do that from our Chicago office, but now that would be possible, thanks to the Internet and increasing transparency in Congress. 

In How to cover Congress without leaving home, Kelly McBride reports on how a few left wing bloggers are using technology to get ahead of their competitors who are covering Congress on the ground. Her article is must reading for anyone who's trying to follow important legislation for an employer, trade association or a blog.

Even with the new technology, covering Congress or a state legislature is as hard as it's ever been. You have to read bills, testimony, letters, articles blogs and anything else, including books, that will help you understand, say ObamaCare, and cap and trade bills. This takes time, but for wonks, it can be a lot of fun, especially when you uncover nuggets that you can use to advance a story or cause or to stop a bad amendment or bill. LINK: How to cover Congress without leaving home. By Kelly McBride.

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