Well, the incoming House of Representatives has adopted the new rules for the 111 House of Representatives.

Because the house is elected every two years, it’s easier to change the rules than in the Senate, which is technically a continuing body, because 2/3 of its members are returning every Congress.

The changes made are generally fairly obscure, but the important ones are changing the motion to recommit such that a report must returned “forthwith”, rather than “promptly” and eliminating term limits on committee chairs.

The change in the motion to recommit means that a motion to ammend a bill must be voted on then and there, as opposed to being sent back to committee, where, at best it is delayed, and frequently dies.

The Republicans have been using it for some time to obstruct legislation.

The end of term limits for committee chairmen is also an improvement, though less of one.

It return the chairman system to one that is largely based on seniority, though the case of Waxman beating out Dingell at the Energy and Commerce Committee shows that it is not universal.

I’m not a fan of seniority determining who is chairman of a committee, but under the Republicans, it became pay-to-play for chairmanships, which is worse.

Also interesting is a provision for the House to continue its contempt of Congress actions against Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton, which means that they might have a receptive Attorney General actually enforce the subpoenas for them to testify.

Of course if I were in Congress, I would trying to get the House Sergeant at Arms to arrest them and lock them in the House basement, which was last done in the 1930s.

This is why you should be glad that I am not in Congress.