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The Roll Call Fabulous 50
Roll Call's Fabulous 50 (part of the Welcome Back, Congress issue) showcases Capitol Hill's leading Democratic and Republican staffers. The long-running list, produced twice a year, features those individuals who rarely get the spotlight but whose work makes Congress tick.
Roll Call selects these top staffers based on four criteria: Mastery, Influence, Spin and Access. Mastery is awarded to the Hill's policy and procedural experts; Influence is given to the individuals who drive the agenda, cut the deals, craft legislation and sway Members; Spin is given to Congress' best communicators who help set the tone and frame the debate; Access is awarded to those staffers who are in the room when decisions are made.
Click on column headers to sort by that column.
| Information on titles is as of January 2010; Compensation covers Oct. 1, 2008, through Sept. 30, 2009, except where noted. |
Mastery |
Influence |
Spin |
Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Phil Barnett,
Majority Staff Director House Energy and Commerce Committee Compensation: $171,299 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Katie Beirne,
Legislative Director Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) $150,654 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
Stacey Farnen Bernards,
Deputy Chief of Staff House Majority Leader $145,729* |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Blake Chisam,
Staff Director/Chief Counsel House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct $158,293* |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|
Bruce Cohen,
Majority Staff Director/Chief Counsel Senate Judiciary Committee $169,161 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Rob Collins,
Deputy Chief of Staff House Minority Whip $168,098* |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|
Ed Corrigan,
Executive Director Senate Republican Steering Committee $121,337 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Brendan Daly,
Communications Director Speaker of the House $171,325 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Kolan Davis,
Minority Staff Director/Chief Counsel Senate Finance Committee $169,161 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Lula Davis,
Secretary for the Senate Majority Office of the Secretary for the Majority $170,759 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Johnny DeStefano,
Deputy Executive Director National Republican Congressional Committee $73,957 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Randy DeValk,
Legislative Policy Director Senate Majority Leader $167,105 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Bruce Evans,
Minority Staff Director Senate Appropriations Committee $168,965 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Hugh Halpern,
Minority Staff Director House Rules Committee $171,325 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
Guy Harrison,
Executive Director National Republican Congressional Committee $82,890* |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Jerry Hartz,
Director of Floor Operations Speaker of the House $158,628 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Charles Houy,
Majority Staff Director Senate Appropriations Committee $168,819 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Barry Jackson,
Chief of Staffr House Minority Leader $172,200 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Rob Jesmer,
Executive Director National Republican Senatorial Committee Salary information not available |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
George Kundanis,
Deputy Chief of Staff Speaker of the House $171,325 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
John Lawrence,
Chief of Staff Speaker of the House $171,325 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Terry Lierman,
Chief of Staff House Majority Leader $171,325 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
Ryan Loskarn,
Staff Director Senate Republican Conference $127,116* |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Jim Manley,
Senior Communications Adviser Senate Majority Leader $135,913 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Janice Mays,
Majority Staff Director/Chief Counsel House Ways and Means Committee $171,325 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Richard Meltzer,
Policy Director Speaker of the House $34,021* |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Rodell Mollineau,
Staff Director Senate Democratic Communications Center $106,421 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Gary Myrick,
Chief of Staff Senate Majority Leader $150,140 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Daniel O'Brien,
Chief of Staff Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) $167,109 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Beverly Pheto,
Majority Staff Director/Clerk House Appropriations Committee $170,519* |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
J.B. Poersch,
Executive Director Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Salary information not available |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Brian Romick,
Member Services Director House Majority Leader $140,000 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
John Sassaman,
Staff Director/Chief Counsel Senate Ethics Committee $169,161 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|
David Schiappa,
Secretary for the Senate Minority Office of the Secretary for the Minority $170,759 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Jeff Shockey,
Minority Staff Director House Appropriations Committee $171,325 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Joe Shoemaker,
Communications Director Senate Majority Whip $127,500 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Kyle Simmons,
Chief of Staff Senate Minority Leader $167,790 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Kevin Smith,
Communications Director House Minority Leader $149,400 |
2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
|
Sharon Soderstrom,
Deputy Chief of Staff Senate Minority Leader $167,790 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Mike Sommers,
Policy Director House Minority Leader $169,917* |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Pat Souders,
Chief of Staff Senate Majority Whip $163,627 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Mike Spahn,
Staff Director Senate Democratic Conference Secretary $137,223 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
Don Stewart,
Communications Director Senate Minority Leader $167,790 |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|
Steve Stombres,
Chief of Staff House Minority Whip $168,423 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
Russell Sullivan,
Majority Staff Director Senate Finance Committee $163,762 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Jon Vogel,
Executive Director Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee $100,582* |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Anne Wall,
Director of Floor Operations Senate Majority Whip $92,333* |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|
Yelberton Watkins,
Chief of Staff House Majority Whip $164,333 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
Daniel Weiss,
Chief of Staff Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) $171,325 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Lisa Wolski,
Chief of Staff Senate Minority Whip $166,572 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Illustrations by Marilyn Gates-Davis / CQ-Roll Call Group
