The House Votes for Normal Politics, Too.

The House of Representatives passed the Senate "fiscal cliff" bill.  They did so with a strong bipartisan vote. 

Speaker Boehner himself voted for it, though the Speaker does not usually vote. In fact, Speaker Boehner engaged in a great act of statesmanship: he abandoned the gridlock-inducing "Hastert Rule" of only bringing to a vote bills that a majority of the majority would support.  The Republican Speaker brought the bill to a vote and voted for it himself, even though most Republicans voted against it. 

The Republican leadership, especially Speaker Boehner and Senate Majority Leader McConnell, are also to be commended for abandoning another foolish rule, the "Norquist Pledge" to never, ever, ever raise taxes.

I hope this important example of bipartisan cooperation - including compromise and horse-trading - is a portent of things to come. A competent legislature is the heart of a good government.

A Good Start to the New Year: Normal Politics Resumes

The United States Senate kept working, making compromises, doing the ordinary business of governing, and passed a bill.  At 2 in the morning, New Year's Day.  And an 89 - 8 vote means that it was a bipartisan effort.

This is the best present the Congress could give the country.

If we can get the House of Representatives to follow suit, we will have taken our government back from the intransigents.

2013 could be an excellent year for improving public order in the United States.