That effort fell short, a demonstration of the limits of the billionaire mayor's largess in Congress and the relative power of gun-rights groups such as the National Rifle Association.

WSJ: Mayor's 2014 Gun Push

The New Year's Day legislation is breathtaking in its largess.

WSJ: David Malpass: Nothing Is Certain Except More Debt and Taxes

This is what's known as "loading the Christmas tree" with promises of bridges and other shows of federal largess.

NPR: Central America Trade Deal a Hard Sell