McClatchy has the details: Congress invokes ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ in debate, but misquotes it

“Since the dawn of the republic, these are how differences are settled between the House and Senate,” Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said on the House floor. “If you don’t remember your civics 101, maybe if you have small children like I do, you can go back and watch the ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ video. It’s very clear.”

The subject of the ‘conference committee’ is not discussed in the US Constitution, Civics 101, or ‘Schoolhouse Rock’. It was created after the fact, not at the ‘dawn of the republic’, in a procedural agreement between the two Houses. In the early days Congress was small enough that there was no need to have committees, or most of the current organizational structure of Congress.

I found some ‘stuff’ today, which will have to do because they aren’t carrying the really great ‘stuff’ of past years. Things get more expensive but are ‘cheaper’.

Fortunately I wasn’t looking for the traditional three gifts because Frankincense trees are in decline. Gold is supposed to be rare, but I have never heard of a shortage, and myrrh is available, although, as the trees that produce myrrh are in the same band as those that produce frankincense, I wouldn’t be surprised if it started to become more rare. Myrrh is the main ingredient for the standard incense used in most Bible-based religions.

The House Republican caucus performed their traditional Grinch impression by screwing the extension of the payroll tax holiday and unemployment extension. They expect to get coal [and oil] money in their stockings, so they just don’t care.

At 11:30 PM CST the winter solstice occurs marking the longest night of the year. If everyone has been good, the days start getting longer tomorrow. Locally, the sun will rise at 6:38AM and set at 4:49PM for a total of 10 hours and 10 minutes of daylight, but tomorrow will be a whole 2 seconds longer.

This also marks HogWatch, so don’t forget to put out the turnips.