The new House majority has a different operating philosophy — one that requires more meetings. A lot more.
“We do have an enormous number,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.).
“There are a lot of meetings,” agreed Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), an ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The large number of meetings says something about the kind of inclusive regime Pelosi intends to build.
It also drives staffers nuts.
One leadership aide said that Pelosi schedules meetings to talk about the agenda for the next meeting, leaving no time to get anything done. Those complaints fall on the deaf ears of members of Congress not forced to attend.
“That’s because they have to go to the meetings,” said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), explaining the staff gripes.
“If they’re not worthwhile, I just don’t go,” said Frank, conceding that it’s a luxury his staff doesn’t have.
Keeping them all straight can get tricky, even for Pelosi herself.
Asked at a luncheon Tuesday about tax policy, she seemed to struggle while piecing together a packed schedule. “There are some other tax initiatives that I will check up on when I meet with my chairmen tomorrow morning, two different chairmen,” she said.
“The chairmen meeting — all chairmen — then the energy bill chairmen. I referenced that meeting. That’s a different meeting tomorrow.”
Heck, even Madame Leather Bullwhip can't keep it straight. She sounds more like the boss from Office Space than she does an effective leader. Oh wait, I forgot...we measure effectiveness by how many post offices we name, not how much of the people's business actually gets done. My bad.
