Comments on: Garamendi to sit on resources, armed services

By: ralph hoffmann

ralph hoffmann — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:56:09 +0000

Note the front page article by Denis Cuff in today’s Times.

By: DanvilleDemocrat

DanvilleDemocrat — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:45:42 +0000

John W., that’s not the right read of the situation.

McNerney got to stay on a committee, Veterans’ Affairs, that in terms of size got cut significantly by the GOP leadership, surely leapfrogging a few other more senior members who had other committee assignments. VA offers a lot of opportunities for constituent services, especially in a district like CA-11.

Energy & Commerce, which McNerney served on for 1 term, is arguably more sought-after than transportation, which is what Garamendi got booted from in favor of Natural Resources, which probably was done only to fill the hole left by George Miller. Sci/Space/Tech gives McNerney a perch with a bit more seniority than he had last time he served on the committee, unlike Garamendi who starts out at square one on Natural Resources.

I’d bet that both Garamendi and McNerney wish one of them had a transportation seat . . . that’s the real loss for the East Bay region and especially CA10 and CA11.

By: John W

John W — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:25:20 +0000

Looks like the Democratic House leadership is being a bit more generous to Garamendi on committee assignments, even though McNerney has more seniority.

By: McNerney returns to science committee | Political Blotter

McNerney returns to science committee | Political Blotter — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:47:08 +0000

[...] Garamendi to sit on resources, armed services [...]

By: ralph hoffmann

ralph hoffmann — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:17:44 +0000

Donkeys or Elephants win. Kites fly. Pigs lose.

By: Elwood

Elwood — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:07:28 +0000

Re: #2

Do pigs fly in tight formation?

By: ralph hoffmann

ralph hoffmann — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:57:39 +0000

The way to generate cheap, clean electricity is from nuclear power. People who like the wind and sun should go fly a kite!

By: ralph hoffmann

ralph hoffmann — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:49:01 +0000

The way to preserve fossil fuels, protect the environment, reduce traffic congestion in the Bay Area, balance the Federal Budget and meet the defense needs of our nation is simple. WE MUST RAISE THE GASOLINE TAX FROM 10 CENTS TO $6 / GALLON. TAXES ON ALL FOSSIL FUELS MUST BE RAISED AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT. DOES GARAMENDI HAVE THE GUTS TO PROPOSE THIS, AND DOES CONGRESS HAVE THE GUTS TO PASS IT. KEEP TUNED!

By: DanvilleDemocrat

DanvilleDemocrat — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:17:56 +0000

John Garamanedi was not the only East Bay congressman to undergo a committee reshuffle.

Rep. Jerry McNerney lost his seat on the powerful Energy & Commerce Committee (http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=membership) and has returned to the Science, Space & Technology Committee (http://science.house.gov/Members/Default.aspx). He remains on the Veterans Affairs committee (http://democrats.veterans.house.gov/about/members.shtml).