Ledge Counsel News > Late July on the Hill

Monday, July 21, 2008

Late July on the Hill
Congress is in full tilt racing toward wrapping up work for the looooonnnnggg "District Work Period" and the nominating conventions (are we there yet??) So, what does this mean for pending matters of national significance? Well, considering that the House of Representatives has ground to a halt on the appropriations process and the caribou still roam freely in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite Minority Leader Boehner's recent hunting junket, stay tuned. In the meantime, with the blazing summer heat of Washington, we must take a moment to take heed of the elements of reality that bring us down to earth. It was not that long ago that we mourned the death of NBC's Tim Russert, "before his time." Now, Fox News star and recent White House spokesman Tony Snow succumbed to cancer, having waged a very public and courageous battle with the disease. Our heartfelt condolences to Tony's family and many friends. For those of you who have been directly touched by the disease or who have had close friends and family members face the uncertainty of living or not living with cancer, know that you are not alone. In a town known too often for its polarization and solitude, cancer is a plight that knows no partisan bounds. But perhaps pulling together, we may find a cure. With the tens of millions (if not billions) of dollars to be spent in this campaign year, perhaps a renewed commitme to dedicating resources to cancer research and disease prevention might be a unifying force for our presidential standardbearers . . . And all of the underticket who follow them. So much at stake.