By Anne C. Mulkern
Washington - Teenager Cody Unser rolled her purple wheelchair into lawmaker Heather Wilson’s office seeking a favor. She wanted to walk again, and needed Wilson’s help.

Wilson, a New Mexico Republican who often votes anti-abortion, decided to support legislation expanding embryonic stem-cell research.

Republican Reps. Mary Bono of California and Charlie Bass of New Hampshire grabbed colleagues in hallways and extracted promises of “yes” votes on the bill. And Rep. Diana DeGette, the Denver Democrat who co-authored the legislation, kept a burgeoning list of those in the “yes” column.

In the two weeks leading up to a vote, she rechecked their commitment every day.

Working together, the various forces helped pull off a political marvel, passing a bill opposed by Republican House leadership, President Bush and social conservatives who helped re- elect Bush. >> MORE

Washington - Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar had a very good Monday. Rep. Diana DeGette’s Tuesday was even better.

But the biggest winner of a week in which unruly moderates seized control of Congress might be someone you’ve passed a hundred times on the streets of Denver, not dreaming he could be the next chief justice of the United States. >> MORE

By Mike Soraghan

Washington - When the senators who headed off the “nuclear option” took the stage, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., was the only freshman among them.

Salazar stood with some of the most senior and powerful members of the Senate on Monday, after spending what he figures must have been 40 hours with them at the negotiating table.

“I felt I was their equal,” Salazar said afterward. “I was treated very much with respect.” >> MORE