Yesterday the blog was about distractions. While we are distracted, the world keeps spinning, and there are things that should be the focus of our attention. Three come readily to mind: Civil Unions, Oil and Gas Commission, and a government shutdown.
The House District 54 Representative, Ray Scott, sponsored a bill that would take the agency that regulates Colorado’s oil and gas industry back to where it was before those pesky ranchers and environmentalists demanded a seat at the table. That bill will be heard in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee today. Evidently enough people have gotten to Scott that he is willing to make some concessions, but since the commission was just restructured last year, the question needs to be asked why this bill is needed at all. Hopefully the committee will agree and just kill the bill. (HB 11-1223.)
On Thursday, the Civil Unions bill will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 11-172 is finding some unusual support from editorial boards all across the state. They have been making the point that if the GOP really is about small government, then there is no place for government in the regulation of marriage. The conservative Colorado Springs Gazette had this to say, "Society should head toward complete withdrawal of the State from the regulation of marriage, which is best left to the partners and their respective religions." Hopefully the committee will pass this bill so that it reaches the floor of the House, where some Republicans are ready to vote in favor of civil unions.
And finally the Tea Party is at war with the Republican Party. There still is no budget in place for the year that is now almost eight months old, and another budget fight is looming over the budget for the year that starts in September. The most recent continuing resolution expires on Friday, and the Tea Party is moving the Republican Party even further to the right. The Democrats caved, and now support the opening position originally proposed by Representative Ryan of Wisconsin. (Can’t seem to get away from Wisconsin these days, can we?) But the Republicans are no longer interested in their own opening bid; they want more. To complicate matters, Operation Odyssey Dawn just blew a hole in the budget. If the target keeps moving, there will never be a budget this year or next year, and the government just may shut down until we can elect some grown-ups.
I don’t know exactly how to react to this possibility. While I want seniors to keep getting their Social Security checks, I think that if they don’t, because of some boneheaded move by Republicans, Republicans won’t find elections quite so easy in the future. Seniors vote, and while their memories may be shot, they do know a lot about Social Security and who messes with it.
Homework
Colorado HB 11-1223
Colorado SB 11-172
Story About Pressure on GOP Lawmakers to Pass Civil Unions Bill
Cantor VS Boehner
The House District 54 Representative, Ray Scott, sponsored a bill that would take the agency that regulates Colorado’s oil and gas industry back to where it was before those pesky ranchers and environmentalists demanded a seat at the table. That bill will be heard in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee today. Evidently enough people have gotten to Scott that he is willing to make some concessions, but since the commission was just restructured last year, the question needs to be asked why this bill is needed at all. Hopefully the committee will agree and just kill the bill. (HB 11-1223.)
On Thursday, the Civil Unions bill will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 11-172 is finding some unusual support from editorial boards all across the state. They have been making the point that if the GOP really is about small government, then there is no place for government in the regulation of marriage. The conservative Colorado Springs Gazette had this to say, "Society should head toward complete withdrawal of the State from the regulation of marriage, which is best left to the partners and their respective religions." Hopefully the committee will pass this bill so that it reaches the floor of the House, where some Republicans are ready to vote in favor of civil unions.
And finally the Tea Party is at war with the Republican Party. There still is no budget in place for the year that is now almost eight months old, and another budget fight is looming over the budget for the year that starts in September. The most recent continuing resolution expires on Friday, and the Tea Party is moving the Republican Party even further to the right. The Democrats caved, and now support the opening position originally proposed by Representative Ryan of Wisconsin. (Can’t seem to get away from Wisconsin these days, can we?) But the Republicans are no longer interested in their own opening bid; they want more. To complicate matters, Operation Odyssey Dawn just blew a hole in the budget. If the target keeps moving, there will never be a budget this year or next year, and the government just may shut down until we can elect some grown-ups.
I don’t know exactly how to react to this possibility. While I want seniors to keep getting their Social Security checks, I think that if they don’t, because of some boneheaded move by Republicans, Republicans won’t find elections quite so easy in the future. Seniors vote, and while their memories may be shot, they do know a lot about Social Security and who messes with it.
Homework
Colorado HB 11-1223
Colorado SB 11-172
Story About Pressure on GOP Lawmakers to Pass Civil Unions Bill
Cantor VS Boehner
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