5 House freshmen get seats on panel probing Trump's WH

[KG]

Associated Press LAURIE KELLMAN and MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Pr

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's known as "the theater committee" for its high profile, high-drama role investigating President Donald Trump's White House. And now, five of the fieriest Democratic freshmen in the House are players on that stage.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Katie Hill, Rashida Tlaib and others now have seats on the powerful House Oversight and Reform Committee — a sign that Democratic leaders want their social media savvy and star power front and center of investigations into the Trump administration. In return, the new members get a platform on which to polish their good-government bona fides. And the bet among senior Democrats is that more experienced committee members will help harness the newcomers' energy, fame and know-how as the blandly-named panel turns its spotlight on the White House ahead of the 2020 elections.

"I consider myself to be a little bit of a justice and truth-teller," said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., referring to her background as a prosecutor. "I think I'm in good company."

On the mission, yes. But the newcomers' styles will depend in part on how solidly they won their districts in the November elections.

"Mine is going to be a very fact-based approach," said Hill, a liaison to Democratic leaders who will serve as Cummings' vice chairman and flipped a Republican stronghold in California. "I am not going to go in there with a set agenda as much as seeking the truth."

more>


https://www.yahoo.com/news/5-house-freshmen-seats-panel-probing-trumps-wh-213652356--politics.html

[Botany]

1. Rashida Tlaib?

I wonder how that is going to go over on the mother fucker illegally occupying
the White House?

[KG]

2. boy, using that word sure did hurt her chances to serve on an important committee, huh.

[Roadside Attraction]

3. There's a problem . . . .

Members of House and Senate committees are appointed by their respective Party leaders . . . that is, in the House, the Democratic leadership appoints Democrats to committees, Republilcan leadership appoints Republican members.

According to Rep. Eric Swalwell (D, CA), speaking last week on The Rachel Maddow Show, a committee cannot start work until all members have been appointed -- and -- the House Republican leadership has NOT YET APPOINTED members to the following committees: Oversight; Ethics; Intelligence; and Committee on Climate Change.

Thus, these committees are hamstrung by the Republican leadership -- they can't do anything until Republicans appoint members.

Not that I'm accusing Republicans of trying to keep these committees from doing their work . . .

[frogmarch]

10. Someone tweeted on Joyce Vance's Twitter page that

Nancy Pelosi tweeted on her own page that if the republicans don't appoint members to the House Intel Committee, she will file obstruction charges.

I skimmed Pelosi's page looking for the tweet but didn't see it.

OK, that was my gossip contribution for today.

EDIT: Pelosi was said to have tweeted that she would set a time limit for the republican appointments, and then file charges if the republicans don't do their job.

[Mr. Quackers]

4. I thought they were supposed to sit down, shut up

and learn how to make fries first before they spoke?

How can I find out what Whoopi Goldberg thinks about this?

[EffieBlack]

5. No. They're supposed to pay attention and learn

And it sounds like Nancy Pelosi is giving them the perfect opportunity to do so. How better to learn than by working closely with people who've been in the trenches and know what they're doing?

[hueymahl]

7. Good move by Nancy!

[pazzyanne]

8. Great analysis of what should happen!

I have never had a job where my expertise trumped learning about the agency I worked with. It is only common sense to take your skills and learn to apply them in the most effective manner.

[EffieBlack]

9. And since seniority is everything in Committees, they'll have plenty of opportunities to learn

Unlike in other venues, seniority and respectfulness rule in committees. People can't just talk whenever and about whatever they want. With some exceptions, they can only talk when acknowledged and usually only after their more senior counterparts have spoken. They must be very well-prepared and know what they're talking about.

They also must all work together behind the scenes since 90 percent of what happens on committees occurs outside of the committee room and 90 percent of THAT occurs between the staffs, so they need to make sure they hire good, solid people.

And when they get in the committee hearing room, they must work as part of a well-oiled machine. If they don't pay attention and either cover the same ground, go way off course, or try to grandstand, they look silly and unprepared - and will get reined in pretty quickly and firmly by the chair.

But if, on the other hand, they pay attention and learn, make sure they know their sh+t and work as part of the team, they can shine and soar.

It's a great opportunity for all of them.

[pazzyanne]

11. Totally agree!

[FakeNoose]

6. Brilliant move by Nancy Pelosi

Let these freshmen get their feet wet by learning the ropes on this important committee under Chairman Elijah Cummings.