Companies big and small have flocked to Washington, complaining to lawmakers that the margin rule will tie up corporate money and damage their bottom line.
Lobbyists for the health insurance industry, meanwhile, are complaining to lawmakers that the administration's deals for the political support of the doctors, drug makers and other care providers have precluded meaningful cost cuts.
Cruz also appeared to acknowledge that he had lost Republican support in the Senate, complaining that lawmakers on both sides were preparing to give away their filibuster rights by allowing Democrats to hold a simple majority vote on future amendments.
But Representative Sue Myrick, a North Carolina Republican, complained that lawmakers "pretend New York has been left in the lurch".
Oil fields and resurgent prices for wheat and beef have helped the local economy — the unemployment rate is only 3.9 percent — but residents complain that lawmakers in Denver overlook the county when it comes time to finance schools and roads.
Mr. Paterson complained that lawmakers, whom he had called back to the Capitol for an emergency session to grapple with the problem, not only opposed his reductions but failed to put forward any of their own.
All of it is causing heartburn for Representative David R. Obey of Wisconsin, who recently complained that lawmakers increasingly saw themselves as "A.T.M. machines for our districts" and spent less time on genuine policy issues.
Ever since, science community leaders have complained that lawmakers lack a trustworthy, neutral source of expertise on emerging issues such as stem cell research and nanotechnology, although the National Academy of Sciences has stepped up its production of reports for Congress.
The American Legion urged its members to complain to lawmakers, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars wrote to Hagel.
Good-government groups complain that lawmakers collect money from special interests just before and after voting on many bills that affect contributors.
