Congress Likes Statues

I've spoken before about my belief that post office designations are stupid votes because the work is trivial and beneath the things that the congress needs to be worrying about. I've suggested setting up an independent committee to handle such things. Well, that's not the only committee that needs to be created.

House Concurrent Resolution 101: Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Ronald Wilson Reagan from the people of California for placement in the United States Capitol.

Do we really need to be taking up the congress's time passing bills to decorate the United States Capitol? Sure, I know a lot of them like Reagan and all and want to honor his memory, but do we need to (literally) make a federal issue out of it? Set up an independent committee to do the work of figuring out which historical figure matches the carpets best and get on with the real work.

Congress Search Is Here!

So you know how I've been promising the capability to search for congresspeople state-by-state? Well, that's still coming, but in the meantime, I have just put up a brand-spanking-new zip code search form! Now you can type your zip code on the right (five or nine digits), and your congresspeople will be displayed. If your zip code spans more than one congressional district, all the congresspeople that represent any part of your zip code will be displayed. When you click on one of them, you'll be treated to a list of all stupid bills and resolutions they've sponsored this year!

I've already used the form to discover that my representative has not sponsored one stupid resolution this year. Not. A. One. I knew there was a reason I liked the guy.

I will soon be adding the state search to the right as well, along with a longitude/latitude search (just because it's cool and I can). Enjoy!

Hooray for... store signs?

Yeah, that's right. In a brand-new grade A piece of stupidity, the House passed the following resolution:

House Resolution 298: Congratulating the on-premise sign industry for its contributions to the success of small businesses.

Alright, guys! You're doing a great job making signs for stores and businesses and stuff! Because the world would fall apart if it weren't for your valiant efforts!

What. The. Hell.

Seriously, here's the main piece of the legislation:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives (1) applauds the United States Small Business Administration for educating small business owners on the benefits of using well-placed, well-designed on-premise signs to overcome competitive disadvantages in the areas of marketing and advertising, and (2) encourages the on-premise sign industry to continue its efforts to produce a new and greater understanding of how to develop safer, more effective, and more affordable signage products so as to alleviate small businesses' competitive disadvantages in marketing and advertising.

Do I really need to say anything more about the stupidity of our government?