Capitol Steps

The Capitol Steps are a popular American political satire group. They have been performing since 1981, and have released several albums consisting primarily of song parodies.

In 1981, two Republican Congressional staffers,

The Capitol Steps are a popular American political satire group. They have been performing since 1981, and have released several albums consisting primarily of song parodies.

In 1981, two Republican Congressional staffers, Bill Strauss and Elaina Newport, used their spare time while working for the Senate Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation, and Government Processes for the Senate Committee of Governmental Affairs to sing song parodies about current events. They were joined by other Republican Senate staffers Nancy Baskin, Barbie Granzow, and Dave Nichols. Together they decided to put on a Christmas show as their first performance, while continuing to work full-time as Congressional staffers. They chose the name "The Capitol Steps" for their group based on a sex scandal earlier that year, in which Congressman John Jenrette had trysted with his wife on the steps of the Capitol building.