Monday, December 31, 2012

Hahn to Congress on Fiscal Cliff: Don't Drop the Ball


Rep. Janice Hahn spoke on the House floor hours before the fiscal cliff deadline. Her office released this transcript of Hahn's remarks:
Tonight in Times Square, hundreds of thousands of people will be there at midnight to watch that ball drop.  But here in Congress, we’ve also dropped the ball. 
We are in the final days of the 112th Congress.  And no one expected us to be here on the House Floor on New Year’s Eve.  
But here we are, racing towards that fiscal cliff—towards higher taxes on the middle class, on slashed investment for the American people – including nutrition for mothers and infants, education for our children, and our infrastructure. 
What part of the “cliff” sounds like a good plan? I know I’m not the only one who has spent time with families that it will hurt. I know I’m not the only one who has visited the businesses that are worried that our country could have another recession. 
We should not be playing this game of chicken.  There is too much at stake to have politics as usual.  We have an opportunity to prevent the fiscal cliff, but in order to do so we must act as a unified Congress.  So I say to all my friends and colleagues, Democrats and Republicans: Let’s get this thing done.  
Tonight when that ball drops, let’s make sure that we haven’t also dropped the ball.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

January Calendar Line Items: Presidential Inauguration, White House Summer Internship Applications



Being Sunday, it’s theoretically the day of rest. If you’re restfully perched at your computer, here are two noteworthy opportunities for your consideration.

2013 Inauguration Tickets


Washington is getting atwitter about the presidential inauguration, which occurs on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.

The Destination DC visitors bureau is excitedly chirping that today, Dec. 2, is the 50-day countdown. 50 days! You have just 50 days to make plans!

To wit:

  1. You’ll want to enter Rep. Janice Hahn’s lottery for tickets.
  2. Then visit the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for news, info and history.
  3. Click back to Destination DC for one-stop travel planning and event information.

White House Summer 2013 Internships

The White House is now accepting applications for 2013 summer interns. Applicants must be US citizens over age 18 and post-secondary students, recent graduates or veterans.

The internships are full time and unpaid. Application deadline is Jan. 27.