Q. When a member of Congress or his family has a medical problem, is that taken care of through public or private medical insurance, and who handles the paperwork?
A. Members of Congress are eligible to receive the same health benefits that are made available to all federal employees, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The same office handles pensions, life insurance and flexible spending accounts.
Medical coverage is handled under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which is described on the program's Web site as offering "the widest selection of health plans in the country." Members of Congress are responsible for their own premiums and their own paperwork, though office staffers will most often handle that chore.
In general, lawmakers wind up paying slightly less in doctors' fees than the national average but pay slightly more in premiums, according to a recent story in USA Today. Citing a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the paper reported premiums for federal employees run 13 percent above the national norm.
Lawmakers also are eligible to receive hospital care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., or the National Naval Medical Center in nearby Bethesda. Both facilities are federally subsidized. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), for instance, underwent a bypass surgery at Bethesda six years ago.
For on-site care, a physician is on call at the Capitol for a small additional fee.
Senators and representatives alike draw a yearly salary of $174,000.
Q: Why do those on the floor of the stock market wear jackets that appear to have mesh fabric on the back?
A: As you can imagine, the trading floor can get hot and uncomfortable when the action heats up, and traders are constantly on the move.
PECO, a maker of trading jackets, says the mesh was introduced for the simple reason to help traders keep cool. Trading jackets also come in a variety of colors and even what PECO describes as "wild and crazy" fabric patterns to enhance the wearer's visibility.
Q: What becomes of drugs seized by police and federal agents?
A: The storage and disposal of seized illegal drugs is a headache for almost all police agencies.
Seized drugs must be held as evidence in criminal cases, which requires a high level of security and accountability. Then, when the case is over, the drugs must be destroyed, usually by burning.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration, for instance, maintains incinerators used for that purpose, and has detailed guidelines for the procedure.
Q: I watch the Food Channel a lot and some of the food preparation for chicken calls for soaking it in a salty brine. They also tell you to put salt on eggplant and tomatoes to remove the moisture. Why doesn't it dry out the chicken?
A: The key is not the salt but the period of time exposed to the salt. The traditional trick for softening up firm vegetables or drawing out moisture has been a couple of dashes of salt. But brining requires an extended period —- anywhere from two hours to several days —- that causes a chemical breakdown within the chicken.
According to "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee, brining liquid should be between 3 percent and 6 percent salt, about one cup of salt for every gallon of water. Kosher salt is preferable and dissolves faster, but table salt is fine. The chicken should steep in the mixture in a plastic bag, with the whole bird submerged.
The effect is two-fold. The salt helps loosen muscle filaments, which makes it more receptive to liquid. And, the salt and protein in the muscle interact chemically to increase the meat's water-holding capacity. The chicken in time "drinks" in the brine.
he meat will become saltier but will also allow the permeation of other herbs and spices and often will require shorter cooking time. This makes for more tender meat. Besides poultry, brine can also be used in the preparation of fish and pork dishes.
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