41.   Dan Mattoon, a phone company lobbyist and longtime adviser to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, is taking over as top staff aide at the House GOP campaign committee.

42.   He said a staff aide picked up a piece of mail that had been taped on all four sides, and cut it open.

43.   Staff aides were putting finishing touches on last-minute issues, including a dispute pitting administration efforts to protect Alaskan sea lions against the local fishing industry.

44.   The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said staff aides for Republicans and Democrats worked through the weekend and during the day Monday.

45.   The result is late-night, closed-door talks between unelected administration and congressional staff aides who can decide how hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars will be spent.

46.   The Washington Post reported that he had made unwanted sexual advances over two decades to numerous women including former staff aides.