The Senate Judiciary Committee finished debate on the immigration bill a few weeks ago and I spent a couple evenings in the hearing room. The bill made it out of committee late on a Tuesday night and I was the only news photographer in the room, which is a rarity on Capitol Hill. 

Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) confers with an aide during a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee on immigration legislation at the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

From left, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are seen with staff during a  markup session for the immigration reform legislation in the Hart Senate Office Building, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

"Gang of Eight" member Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)  listens during a markup session for the immigration reform legislation in the Hart Senate Office Building, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

From left, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)  seen during debate in a  markup session for the immigration reform legislation in the Hart Senate Office Building, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Senators Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) talk with each other during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

From left, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) look over an amendment during a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 20, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

From left, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)  are seen with staff as they look over amendments during a markup session for the immigration reform legislation in the Hart Senate Office Building, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.) confers with an aide during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Supporters cheer after the the committee approved the bill during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

From left, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) talk with each other after the the committee approved the bill during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) high fives with supporters after the the committee approved the bill during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Supporters of the bill cheer in the lobby of the Hart Senate Office Building after the the committee approved the bill during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

This story was part of the Boston Globe's "Broken City" series, which examines the many ways in which Washington and our political system is flawed. This piece on Rep. Rick Nolan of Minnesota discusses how after 32 years since last serving, Nolan returned to a very different U.S. Congress, one that focuses on money and divisive partisanship. You can read the story  here . 

Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is seen during the House Oversight and Government Reform hearing called "The IRS: Targeting Americans for Their Political Beliefs," on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013.  (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration, confers with an aide during a House Oversight and Government Reform hearing examining the IRS's targeting of conservative groups, on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 22, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) questions witnesses while he holds up a chart during the House Oversight and Government Reform hearing examining the IRS's targeting of conservative groups, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)

Lois Lerner, director of Exempt Organizations for the Internal Revenue Service, leaves the room after invoking her Fifth Amendment right not to testify during a House Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 22, 2013. Lerner, the IRS official who tried to temper efforts to target conservative groups and then made the issue public, told her questioners that allegations she had misled Congress in previous testimony were false before refusing to answer more questions.  (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)