quick thought

I'm way too swamped with a cappella right now (our ICCA quarterfinal is in a week and a half) to really write anything of any weight, though I have what seems like eight hundred tabs open of interesting things I want to read and discuss. Just a quick thought about the House Democrats' stimulus proposal.

I can't imagine it's going to play well that they're taking money out of future Social Security funds (by reducing withholding) for stimulus now. I know the CW is that we have to handle this now and then we'll deal with the long-term budget and entitlement issues we're facing, but I have the feeling the Blue Dogs as well as many Republicans will be all over that.

I'm not even sure how I feel about it. I'm inclined to agree with The Economist when they say that now is the time when the government will have enough political capital and leeway to start handling these problems as part of an overall economic strategy, and furthermore that showing that these issues are being taken seriously will help revive investing and general confidence.

The Green House?

The People's Green House, to be precise.

Interesting look at some subcommittee swapping going on in the House of Representatives. Apparently Ed Markey of Massachusetts (REPRESENT!) is now in charge of both the Energy and Environment Subcommittee and the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming.

The Energy and Environment Subcommittee has something the Select Committee does not:...legislative jurisdiction. It will be the key subcommittee pushing climate/energy legislation through the House.

Conversely, the Select Committee has something the Subcommittee doesn't: total freedom, an absence of jurisdictional restraints. The climate/energy issue is so big that Markey can hold hearings on national security, jobs, housing, refugees, trade, you name it. Those subjects are outside the E&E Subcommittee's legislative bailiwick but within the Select Committee's bully-pulpit bailiwick.

This gives Markey a one-two punch: he can craft and help pass climate/energy legislation through the Subcommittee while using the Select Committee to educate other committee chairs about how the issue affects their jurisdictions. I can't think of another committee chair who has the same kind of megaphone with which to drum up support for his own legislation, in the House and among the public.

The U.S. House of Representatives has reworded its rules to be gender neutral. Hallelujah!