TOPLESS GOVERNMENT

My Citizen Legislators, President Joe Biden gave his in person State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on February 7th at 9pm ET.  I want to discuss the origins and authorization of the State of the Union Address.

According US House of Representatives Office of the Historian:

The formal basis for the State of the Union Address is from the U.S. Constitution:

• The President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Article II, Section 3, Clause 1.

The constitutionally mandated presidential message has gone through a few name changes:

• It was formerly known as the Annual Message from 1790 to 1946.
• It began to be informally called the "state of the Union" message/address from 1942 to 1946.
• Since 1947 it has officially been known as the State of the Union Address.

Earlier Annual Messages of the President included agency budget requests and general reports on the health of the economy. During the 20th century, Congress required more-specialized reports on these two aspects, separate from the Annual Message.

• Budget Message, required by the National Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 (42 Stat. 20) to be delivered to Congress no more than two weeks after Congress convenes in January.
• Economic Report, required by the Employment Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 23), with a flexible delivery date.

Over time, as the message content changed, the focus of the State of the Union also changed:

• In the 19th century, the annual message was both a lengthy administrative report on the various departments of the executive branch and a budget and economic message.
• After 1913, when Woodrow Wilson revived the practice of presenting the message to Congress in person, it became a platform for the President to rally support for his agenda.
• Technological changes—radio, television, and the Internet—further developed the State of the Union into a forum for the President to speak directly to the American people.

• First radio broadcast of Message: President Calvin Coolidge, 1923.
• First television broadcast of Message: President Harry Truman, 1947.
• First televised evening delivery of Message: President Lyndon Johnson, 1965.
• First live webcast on Internet: President George W. Bush, 2002.
• First high definition television broadcast of Message, President George W. Bush, 2004.

• The longest: President James Earl (Jimmy) Carter 33,667 words in 1981 (written). President William J. (Bill) Clinton 9,190 words in 1995 (spoken).1
• The shortest: President George Washington, 1790, 1,089 words.2
• Average length: 19th century was about 10,000 words; late 20th century, about 5,000 words.
• Most Messages/Addresses given: President Franklin Roosevelt, 12 (10 were personal appearances before Congress).
• Fewest Messages/Addresses given: President Zachary Taylor, 1; President William Henry Harrison, 0; President James A. Garfield, 0.

1The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sou.php (January 16, 2014).

2Ibid.

The following is a list of in-person Annual Message and State of the Union Addresses given by Presidents of the United States before Joint Sessions of Congress. There have been 99 total in-person addresses from 1790 to 2022. In 1945, President Franklin Roosevelt's address was read to a Joint Session of the House and Senate. Since the President did not deliver the address, it does not count as an in-person address. The address was formally known as the Annual Message from 1790 to 1946. Since 1947, it has officially been known as the State of the Union Address.

President Thomas Jefferson began the practice of sending separate, written Annual Messages to the House and Senate, instead of an in-person address, in 1801. This remained the practice of Presidents until Woodrow Wilson revived in-person delivery before a Joint Session of Congress in 1913.

January 27, 2010

Obama, Barack H.

January 25, 2011

Obama, Barack H.

January 24, 2012

Obama, Barack H.

February 12, 2013

Obama, Barack H.

January 28, 2014

Obama, Barack H.

January 20, 2015

Obama, Barack H.

January 12, 2016

Obama, Barack H.

January 30, 2018

Trump, Donald J.

February 5, 2019

Trump, Donald J.

February 4, 2020

Trump, Donald J.

March 1, 2022

Biden, Joseph R., Jr.

February 7, 2023

Biden, Joseph R., Jr.

The practice began in 1966 when the television networks provided the Republican party with a half-hour slot. Senator Everett Dirksen (Republican, Illinois) and Representative Gerald R. Ford (Republican, Michigan) delivered the first opposition response. By 1976 the television networks were providing a slot for the opposition party almost immediately after the State of the Union address.

2021

No Annual Message.  President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. delivered a speech on his Build Back Better plan on April 28, 2021. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina delivered the Republican response.

2022

Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) offered the Republican response to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.'s Annual Message, delivered on March 1, 2022.

2023

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) offered the Republican response to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.'s Annual Message, delivered on February 7, 2023.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my knowledge and love of politics.  I look forward to geeking out with you again.

State of the Union | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

How the evolution of the State of the Union reflects a changing country : NPR

State of the Union 2023 | The White House

Why was Biden heckled by Republicans at the State of the Union? - Vox

State of the Union 2023: 5 questions for Biden's speech (thehill.com)

Explainer: State of the Union 2023: When is Biden speaking and what do you need to know? | Reuters

5 Key Takeaways From Biden’s 2023 State of the Union - Bloomberg

Sanders says ‘choice is between normal or crazy’ in GOP response | The Hill

State of the Union hecklers: What lawmakers yelled out (thehill.com)

List of In-Person Annual Message and State of the Union Addresses | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives



Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses.  I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works.  Remember knowledge is power!  So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, February 3, 2023, we celebrated a Saturday morning television show, Schoolhouse Rock on ABC!  I’m a Generation Xer and I grew up on Schoolhouse Rock!  Generation X owes a great deal to SchoolHouse Rock and I want to celebrate the half-century mark of this phenomenal animated television show.

My Citizen Legislators as y’all know, the Topless Government podcast is a cross between School House Rock and civics for the masses.

According to IMDb:

A generation of American kids grew up singing the catchy tunes that were an integral part of "Schoolhouse Rock." These animated shorts incorporate songs that illustrate educational subjects such as history, science, multiplication tables, and basic grammar.

First episode date: January 6, 1973 (USA)

Executive producers: Tom Yohe, George Newall, Radford Stone

Year: 1973

Created by: David McCall

Original network: ABC (1973-1985, 1992–2000); Direct-to-video (2009)

Production companies: Scholastic Rock, Inc. ABC

In the first season, there were 11 episodes.  

Season 1 episodes

S1 E1 · My Hero, Zero

3 min · Jan 6, 1973

Watch

Why zero is a hero in multiplication.

S1 E2 · Elementary, My Dear

3 min · Jan 6, 1973

Watch

Noah's Ark helps teach the multiplication of two.

S1 E3 · Three Is a Magic Number

3 min · Jan 7, 1973

Watch

A Magician digs deep into his top hat that proves three is a magic number.

S1 E4 · The Four-Legged Zoo

3 min · Jan 14, 1973

Watch

A field trip to the zoo is fun and educational.

S1 E5 · Ready or Not, Here I Come

3 min · Feb 3, 1973

Watch

Five, 10, 15, 20; multiplying in fives.

S1 E6 · I Got Six

3 min · Feb 10, 1973

Watch

Visits to the neighborhood candy store and restaurant.

S1 E7 · Lucky Seven Sampson

3 min · Feb 17, 1973

Watch

Lucky Seven Sampson teaches the kids about the multiplication of seven.

S1 E8 · Figure Eight

3 min · Feb 23, 1973

Watch

Multiplication of eight is learned through a song.

S1 E9 · Naughty Number Nine

3 min · Mar 2, 1973

Watch

A cartoon music video is used to teach the nines.

S1 E10 · The Good Eleven

3 min · Mar 10, 1973

Watch

How 11 makes multiplication fun.

S1 E11 · Little Twelvetoes

3 min · Mar 10, 1973

Watch

The martian Little Twelvetoes teaches kids about the number 12.

I did some digging to see if there were other animated series, and low and behold I found out that Netflix had green-lighted “We the People” in 2021.  The show was created by Chris Nee and executive produced by Kenya Barris (Blackish), and Barack and Michelle Obama.  The series premiered on July 4, 2021. 

I took the opportunity to watch one episode from the first season, The Three Branches of Government.  Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Brittany Howard, and the "Frozen" songwriters lay out a musical lesson about checks and balances in our government. The episode was five minutes in length and I was quite frankly disappointed in the episode.  I’m biased but the episode was striving to do it all and for me it fell flat.

Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses.  I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works.  Remember knowledge is power!  So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

This is the SECOND SEASON OF TOPLESS GOVERNMENT and I’ll be discussing topics that have been top of mind to everyone, providing an insight on how YOUR government works.  

As always I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate, share, and review the show.

Well, well, well.  Speaker Kevin McCarthy is a man of his word; he announced on January 24th the removal of Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA.) from the House Intelligence Committee. According to the National Review.com January 28th article by Britanny Bernstein, Speaker McCarthy cited Swalwell’s association with a Chinese spy and Schiff’s boosting of the now-debunked Steele dossier as reasons each lawmaker is unfit to serve on their assigned committee.

The National Review.com article continues by stating, Speaker McCarthy has vowed to remove Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over past anti-Semitic remarks and other controversial comments about Israel. However, Omar’s ouster would require a vote of the full House.

A few House GOP members have publicly stated their opposition to the removal of Rep. Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  It is unclear as to when an actual House floor vote will occur.  Stay tuned.

Speaker’s committee removal powers are limited | The Hill

McCarthy vows to remove three Dems from committee posts | The Hill

Divided U.S. House members spar over national security committee seats | Reuters

Democrats tee up showdown with McCarthy on committee seats (axios.com) 

House vote on Ilhan Omar’s Foreign Affairs seat appears increasingly uncertain (jewishinsider.com)

Ilhan Omar: Foreign Affairs Committee Expulsion Opposed by Ken Buck | National Review

Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses.  I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works.  Remember knowledge is power!  So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

This is the SECOND SEASON OF TOPLESS GOVERNMENT and I’ll be discussing topics that have been top of mind to everyone, providing an insight on how YOUR government works.  

As always I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate, share, and review the show.

The annual three-day event included Louisiana Alive! on Thursday night, which is a mixer event showcasing Louisiana foods from all over the state and live music from various bands in Louisiana. Friday night is a seated dinner where the Mardi Gras princesses and festival queens are presented. Saturday night is the grand Mardi Gras Ball Gala, where the king is presented to the crowd of more than 3,000 after the royalty presentation with floats and marching bands that parade through the ballroom.

If you want to run for office in Louisiana, Washington Mardi Gras is the perfect opportunity to be seen and heard – shaking that money tree to hosting fundraising events. Many deals are discussed and signed on the dotted line so to speak.  Mixing business and pleasure is a way of life for Louisianians – socializing across party lines can lead to getting things done, policy wise.

History | mkofl

At Washington Mardi Gras, Louisiana gov. hopefuls seek cash | Local Politics | nola.com

Washington Mardi Gras: The swamp becomes crowded - Louisiana Illuminator (lailluminator.com)

Washington Mardi Gras has Louisiana politicos partying in DC (businessreport.com)

Some start Washington Mardi Gras at the White House | Local Politics | nola.com

Washington D.C. Mardi Gras underway today through Saturday. Movers & shakers gather to wheel & deal and catch some beads | louisianaradionetwork.com

As always I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate, share, and review the show.

My Citizen Legislators I am so excited because this past weekend in DC Washington Mardi Gras took place at the Washington Hilton.  For over 70 years the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians this great organization has brought the pageantry, revelry, and mystery of Mardi Gras to our nation's capital.  

This was Topless Government, the government and politics show.  If you enjoyed it, I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate and review the show.  We’re on YouTube and Facebook right now.  Production is courtesy of Marcus Donovan, the Pasteurized Chef.  You can check out his show – the District of Misfits Show – every Sunday evening.  They go live at 10pm.  This show is a District Dogface Studios Production.  

Thank you for the opportunity to share my knowledge and love of politics.  I look forward to geeking out with you again.

My Citizen legislators, one of my followers on TikTok AionTeleos, would love to hear an episode on congressional committees, and what benefit Members of Congress get from those assignments.  I agree!  This is a great idea and timely!

We are now two weeks into the 118th Congress.  The House and Senate were in recess this week.  

Well as I can tell you from my time on Capitol Hill as a staffer, committee assignments are extremely important to Members of Congress.  When my former boss, Congressman David Vitter (R-LA-1) ran for the open US Senate seat in Louisiana back in 2004 and won, we had to begin thinking about what committees he was to join in the Senate.  Now a great deal of thought goes into securing plum committee assignments.  Committee assignments can shape a Member’s tenure in Congress, and it can take some effort to secure a spot on a committee that deals with issues relevant to a Member of Congress District or State.  Representatives seek posts on committees with jurisdiction in areas in which they have expertise or that support the interests of their districts and for Senators their states.

There are three types of committees in each chamber. Standing committees in the Senate and House are permanent and have a defined legislative jurisdiction under Senate Rule XXV or House Rule X, respectively.

• Types of Committees in the House
• There are three types of committees: standing, select, and joint.
• Standing committees are permanent committees whose jurisdiction is identified in the House Rules. Currently there are 20 standing committees 
• Select committees are created by a resolution to conduct investigations or consider measures, usually on a specific topic, and are not renewed on a permanent basis with the notable exception of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
• Joint committees, such as the Joint Committee on Taxation, have both House and Senate members and typically conduct studies rather than consider measures.
• Standing Committees are permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate and specialize in the consideration of particular subject areas. The Senate currently has 16 standing committees.
• Joint Committees include membership from both houses of Congress. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation. The position of chair usually alternates each Congress between members from the House and Senate.
• Special or Select Committees were originally established by the Senate for a limited time period to perform a particular study or investigation. These committees might be given or denied authority to report legislation to the Senate.

Select and joint committees generally handle oversight or housekeeping responsibilities.

In both the House and Senate, no member may chair more than one standing committee. Republicans members in both chambers have imposed term limits on their committee and subcommittee leaders.  Under the restrictions, committee or subcommittee leaders may not serve more than six years as leader.  

Committee assignments were delayed due to the five days and 15 manual roll call votes on the election of a speaker.  Committee assignments have been slowly trickling out to the public.  The steering committee for each party makes assignments which in turn must be voted on by the Democratic Caucus or Republican Conference. Members are typically limited to service on two committees and four subcommittees, with exceptions for particular committees. 

The Republican Steering Committee finalized committee assignments for the 118th Congress. I know y’all are curious as to how the 21 holdouts to Speaker McCarthy fared with their committee assignments, right?  Scott Wong, a senior congressional reporter for NBC News and Kyle Stewart an associate producer covering Congress for NBC News delve into those committee assignments of the 21 holdouts.  Let’s roll down that list and boy is it a list!  Some of these holdouts received some plum committee assignments, others are still awaiting when they’ll know their committee assignments.

The Senate was still in recess but there were internal conversations with leadership about committees. That will be made public next week. 

• Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a former head of the Freedom Caucus and one of the five so-called Never Kevins, will keep his spots on the powerful Judiciary and Oversight committees. He changed his vote to "present" on the final ballot for speaker, helping push McCarthy over the finish line.
• Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, one of 13 holdouts who flipped to back McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will continue to serve on both the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a vocal McCarthy critic who voted "present" on the 14th and 15th ballots, was awarded a seat on the Oversight and Accountability Committee, which plans to launch numerous investigations into the Biden administration. She will continue to serve on the Natural Resources panel, on which she served in the previous Congress.
• Freshman Rep. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a seat on the Homeland Security Committee.
• Rep. Mike Cloud of Texas, who also flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a new seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which controls federal spending.
• Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, another lawmaker who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will serve for the first time on Appropriations.
• Freshman Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona, who voted "present" on the 15th ballot, will serve on the Homeland Security Committee.
• Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who was nominated to run against McCarthy for speaker and flipped to him on the 12th ballot, was named by McCarthy as the "speaker's designee" on the influential Steering Committee, which decides which lawmakers get committee gavels and seats. Donalds also won a coveted spot on the Financial Services Committee, a top panel known on Capitol Hill as an "A" committee.
• Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, perhaps the most vocal McCarthy foe during the speaker fight, who flipped to "present" in the 14th round, will continue to serve on the Judiciary panel.
• Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, one of the Never Kevins who flipped to "present" in the last round of voting, has not gotten his committee assignments yet.
• Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, was reinstated by Republicans on two committees —Oversight and Natural Resources panels — after Democrats removed him two years ago for posting threats to lawmakers on social media.
• Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who flipped to McCarthy on the 13th ballot, will continue to serve on the Appropriations panel. Harris, a physician, will be the chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration subcommittee.
• Freshman Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a seat on the Oversight and Natural Resources panels.
• Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois, who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will remain on the Agriculture Committee.
• Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, one of the Never Kevins who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will remain on the Financial Services panel, which he joined in June.
• Freshman Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, also won a seat on Financial Services.
• Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, the chairman of the far-right House Freedom Caucus who brokered a deal between conservatives and McCarthy, will remain on the Foreign Affairs Committee. A subject of Jan. 6 investigations, Perry won a new seat on the Oversight committee.
• Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, a Never Kevin who flipped to "present" on the final ballot, will continue to serve on Natural Resources.
• Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who along with Perry helped negotiate a deal with McCarthy, will keep his seat on the Judiciary panel.
• Freshman Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will serve on the Foreign Affairs panel.
• Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, who flipped from "present" to vote for McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will continue to serve on the Judiciary panel.

In addition to committee assignments, McCarthy had made other concessions to his right flank. He vowed that Freedom Caucus members would get three seats on the speaker-controlled Rules Committee, which decides exactly how bills are considered on the House floor.

Committee assignments are an important part of a Member of Congress, they will spend an enormous amount of time in committee hearings and markups.  So, it's important to secure the committee assignment that is important to a district and state.

This was Topless Government, the government and politics show.  If you enjoyed it, I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate and review the show.  We’re on YouTube and Facebook right now.  Production is courtesy of Marcus Donovan, the Pasteurized Chief.  You can check out his show – the District of Misfits Show – every Sunday evening.  They go live at 10pm.  This show is a District Dogface Studios Production.  

Thank you for the opportunity to share my knowledge and love of politics.  I look forward to geeking out with you again.

CRS IN FOCUS Report: Administration of the House of Representatives: Actions Taken During a New Congress and Following a Majority Change

About the US Senate Committee System | Committee Assignments

CRS Report: Committee Assignment Process in the U.S. Senate: Democratic and Republican Party Procedures

NBCNews.com: What the 21 McCarthy holdouts got in committee assignments     

Congress.gov: Committees of the U.S. Congress 

History.house.gov: Securing a Committee Assignment 

My Citizen Legislators. The Speaker’s race is over after a ballbusting and brawling on the House floor in the early hours of Saturday, January 7th.  On January 9th,  the House voted on H.Res. 5 - Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress and for other purposes AKA - House Rules Package for the 118th Congress.  The final vote count was 220 to 213, Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) voted with the Democrats.  Rep. Gonzales, a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, denounced that some of McCarthy’s concessions to 21 conservative agitators went too far – specifically one making it easier to oust McCarthy as speaker.  In the package of rules changes McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus negotiated for the 118th Congress was a provision allowing a single lawmaker to force a floor vote to oust McCarthy as speaker.

Another rule change, secured by conservatives, would ban the practice of automatically raising the federal debt ceiling when Congress passes a budget resolution. It means that the House and Senate will need to take a separate vote to hike the nation’s borrowing limit in addition, Republicans are demanding massive spending cuts in exchange – cutting mandatory programs, i.e. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Other rules changes in the package included:

• Requiring that new spending has to be offset with cuts elsewhere in the budget.
• Requiring that lawmakers get 72 hours to read a bill before it's brought to the floor.
• Eliminating proxy or remote voting.
• Allowing the House to vote to create a select subcommittee focused on investigating the origins of the pandemic and the “weaponization of the federal government.”
• Gutting the Office of Congressional Ethics, the nonpartisan, independent office that investigates lawmakers.

My Citizen Legislators there you have it!  This is what Speaker McCarthy conceded so he could have the job he has pined away for since being elected to Congress in 2006.

There is so much to unpack here.  Gutting Office of Congressional Ethics essentially is an attempt to keep the razor thin 9-seat GOP majority in tack.  So, no investigations against Rep. George Santos (R-NY-3) or whatever his real name is?  

Politico.com: Unpacking the House GOP's new rules: A handy guide to the changes 

Changes to House Rules Affecting the Congressional Budget Process Included in H.Res. 5 (118 th Congress)

The Holman Rule (House Rule XXI, Clause 2(b))

H. Res. 5 - Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, and for other purposes.

BGOV Bill Summary: H. Res. 5, House Rules for the 118th Congress (2)    

RollCall.com: House adopts rules package for the 118th Congress

Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses.  I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works.  Remember knowledge is power!  So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

This is the SECOND SEASON OF TOPLESS GOVERNMENT and I’ll be discussing topics that have been top of mind to everyone, providing an insight on how YOUR government works.  

As always I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate, share, and review the show.

GOVT 101 – Federal Government Bouncing a HUGE Check (Defaulting on our Debt & Raising the Debt Limit)

The US hit the debt ceiling set by Congress on Thursday, January 19th, forcing the Treasury Department to start taking extraordinary measures to keep the government paying its bills and escalating pressure on Capitol Hill to avoid a catastrophic default. According to Politico, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen suggested such measures may last until early June. Other forecasters say it could be as late as September.

Ben White, with Politico January 19, 2023 article entitled, “Don’t freak out over the debt limit … yet laid out the politics surrounding the debt ceiling debate.

In the White House’s view, Republicans are on very poor political ground. Unlike 2010, they scored no big mandate for spending cuts in the 2022 midterms. Republicans raised the debt limit repeatedly under President Donald Trump without any spending cuts. And they were expected to romp in 2022 and only barely snared the House.

Democrats, meanwhile, will hammer them for the next several months about holding the economy hostage over giving the Treasury the ability to pay for spending commitments Congress has already made.

The White House team figures there will be a path to a relatively clean hike featuring Democrats and moderate Republicans from districts President Joe Biden carried. Which gets us to …

Why you should worry a bit. The main reason is that, in order to get the gavel, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) agreed that he would not push through any debt limit hike without significant spending cuts. And his speakership hangs on just one Republican deciding to force a vote to push him out. So hardline fiscal conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus will have outsized power. And making a deal that features mostly Democratic votes seems like it will be quite difficult.

This drama will run for the next five months and possibly more. It may look very grim and hopeless at times. It has before. But the U.S. has never defaulted. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of economics knows it simply can’t be allowed to happen. So it’s reasonable — for now at least — to believe 2023 won’t be the year that Congress decides to vaporize the economy for absolutely no good reason.

This was Topless Government, the government and politics show.  If you enjoyed it, I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate, and review the show.  We’re on YouTube and Facebook right now.  Production is courtesy of Marcus Donovan, the Pasteurized Chief.  You can check out his show – the District of Misfits Show – every Sunday evening.  They go live at 10 pm.  This show is a District Dogface Studios Production.  

Thank you for the opportunity to share my knowledge and love of politics.  I look forward to geeking out with you again.

CRS INSIGHT: “Extraordinary Measures” and the Debt Limit 

CRS IN FOCUS Report: The Debt Limit

US Treasury News Release: Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership on the Debt Limit

Debt-Limit-Letter-to-Congress-McCarthy-20230113

committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: Q&A: Everything You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling   

Politico.com: Don't Freak Out Over The Debt Limit...Yet 

Thehill.com: McCarthy Tries to get out of his box on debt ceiling

Thehill.com: Why the White House is refusing to negotiate on the debt ceiling  

Bloomberg Government: What’s the Debt Ceiling, and Will the US Raise It?: QuickTake 

This is the SECOND SEASON OF TOPLESS GOVERNMENT and I’ll be discussing topics that have been top of mind to everyone, providing an insight on how YOUR government works.  

As always I would be pleased if you would subscribe, rate, share, and review the show.

My Citizen Legislators this week Congress convened the first session of the 118th Congress.  There have been 11 rounds of votes for the Speaker of the House as of Thursday evening.  House Republicans asked for a Motion to Adjourn and it was agreed to by a vote of 219 to 213 and 2 not voting.

Rep.-Elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) does not have the votes.  Twenty republicans have consistently voted against him.  Republicans have a 9 seat majority at 222 members to 213 Democratic members.  McCarthy can only afford to lose 4 votes.  He has conceded to the demands of the two Republicans – Motion to Vacate the Chair, a mechanism to oust the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Placing members of the House Freedom Caucus on the House Rules Committee.  The Committee on Rules is amongst the oldest standing committees in the House, having been first formally constituted on April 2, 1789. The Committee is commonly known as “The Speaker’s Committee” because it is the mechanism that the Speaker uses to maintain control of the House Floor, and was chaired by the Speaker until 1910. Because of the vast power wielded by the Rules Committee, its ratio has traditionally been weighted in favor of the majority party and has been in its “2 to 1” (9 majority and 4 minority members) configuration since the late 1970s.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America, and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

CRS Report R44243 Electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions 

CRS Report: The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the Senate Floor

CRS Report: Party Leaders in the House: Election, Duties, and Responsibilities  

Bloomberg: McCarthy Blocked for 11th Time in Longest Fight Since 1859

Bloomberg: Conservative Revolt Against McCarthy Erupts After Years of Anger

Politico.com: McCarthy fails on 11th ballot amid hopes for tentative deal with conservatives

The Hill: GOP discusses new concessions in behind-the-scenes talks on making McCarthy Speaker

We are winding down the second session of the 117th Congress.  There are no uncontested midterm election races and on December 6th, Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) defeated Herschel Walker for a full 6-year term in the Senate.

Both Democratic and Republican parties have begun the ritual of organizing for the 118th Congress that will convene on January 3, 2023.

Democrats traditionally use the seniority system to select chairs and ranking members on committees, and they do not enforce term limits. House Republicans adhere to a six -year term limit for chairs and often see competitive races for top committee gavels, like Appropriations and Ways and Means.

GETTING ORGANIZED— House Democrats are moving full speed ahead to lock-in lower ranking leadership roles and key committee leaders by the middle of next week. Ranking members of House committees could be set by then, after the Steering Committee makes its recommendations. Tomorrow the caucus will look at Budget Committee leadership and the new position of Battleground Leadership Representative, giving frontliners a seat at the leadership table.

Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses.  I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works.  Remember knowledge is power!  So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

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In this episode, Crystal is shooting off the cuff with Marcus and discussing what's going on in the world of politics. Sometimes we just need to vent.

Welcome back to Topless Government. This show is a cross between Schoolhouse Rock and civics for the masses.  I want to make this show relatable and fun for everyone who would like to know how YOUR government works.  Remember knowledge is power!  So let’s get started.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics.  I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House.  I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America, and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.