If successful, these efforts would not only lead to early retirement for some veteran lawmakers but would also fundamentally change the House.

There is already talk about going home for the year in October, although a few veteran lawmakers call that wishful thinking.

Even veteran lawmakers sought to upgrade their suites.

Indeed, the tension between the two veteran lawmakers continued to the close of last week's voting.

Many rookies turned up today to watch and learn from veteran lawmakers.

It was a day, as well, of firsts, not only for freshmen but also for some veteran lawmakers.

For some veteran lawmakers, the work recalls the grim task of 17 years ago when the space shuttle Challenger exploded.

For them, issues like deficit reduction were hard principle, and they turned against veteran lawmakers who were too easy to compromise.

But in interviews with new and veteran female lawmakers, it is clear that Congress is going through a creaky adjustment.

But content aside, it is not an elegant contest between these two effective, veteran lawmakers.