Avantages
Overall, the staff is highly competent. If not the best in their respective areas, they are certainly among them. Many are approaching retirement, so they have great experience and exposure.
People are friendly. It's an enjoyable atmosphere as people work at getting along. Staff parties are frequent enough to foster casual interaction, but not so frequent that work suffers.
Management is largely hands-off. As long as you get your assignments completed, you are left alone. (This is not a good organization to work for if you lack initiative or have poor self-discipline). People with drive thrive, and there is the added satisfaction that effort is benefitting the greater good.
Inconvénients
The organization is small, so each staff member has multiple responsibilities. Also, each legislative session is accompanied by the fear that programs might not receive funding, which would result in positions being cut.
Salaries are stagnant. Bonuses are non-existent. Until the economy pulls out of the recession, this is unlikely to change.