While looking for info about the results of the Senate Commerce Committee hearing into S2045, the CPSC overhaul bill (it passed), I came across this tidbit from Broadcasting and Cable -
House Republicans Seek Info on GAO DTV StudyThe Republicans on the House Commerce Committee, led by Reps. Joe Barton of Texas and Fred Upton of Michigan, sent a letter to the GAO requesting all sorts of information related to a planned GAO study on the pending transition to digital TV.
Barton, Upton Question Need for GAO Study in Wake of CEA Study
Top House Republicans suggested that a Government Accountability Office study on the digital-TV transition has its work cut out for it if it wants to match one already completed on the same subject by the Consumer Electronics Association.
The upshot of it all? The Republicans want to base public policy that is supposed to protect consumers on an industry-oriented study.
That's not exactly breaking news, but their current openness about it is rather reassuring.
"Reassuring" in the sense that it's obvious that despite some missteps by the Democrats in Congress (FISA bill, continued funding for Bush's war in Iraq), the Republicans are ceding next year's elections to the Democratic Party.
Well, it's either that or else the Republicans are utterly incapable of learning from last year's resounding defeat.
And you know, while I've written many words about Republicans (though few of them have been complimentary ones :)) ), "stupid" hasn't been one of them.
They know what happened last year, and why.
Bottom line: Whether it's SCHIP, civil liberties, the war in Iraq, or any other of a hundred issues, they aren't even pretending to represent the interests of the average American.
Note: Arizona's John Shadegg(R-AZ3) is also on the House Commerce Committee.
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