Reforming Obamacare through the reconciliation process
Here’s a primer on how the GOP could approach passing the AHCA through reconciliation.
If you think the process is complex, think again. It’s mega-complex.
I find it amusing, however, that part of the procedure involves something known as a “Byrd bath”:
Later in the process, as the reconciliation bill makes its way to the Senate floor, majority and minority leadership staff will gather for more formal discussions to assess which provisions qualify as “extraneous” under the “Byrd rule.” This process, informally known as the “Byrd bath,” allows for all sides to put their cases before the parliamentarian, who will normally provide more definitive guidance on how she would advise the chair to rule.
The following is completely parenthetical, but this post conjured up a long-buried memory from my youth. In our yard we had a bird bath. But no matter how much I wanted to, and no matter how hard I tried, I never saw a bird take a bath in it.
Just now, for the first time in my life, I wondered what we might have been doing wrong.
Ah, the internet! Google! Sure enough, in no time at all I found these 10 tips on how to attract birds to your birdbath. And sure enough, we were committing a host of errors. Ours was probably too high, didn’t have good footing for the birds, and in general didn’t follow most of the rules.
Bird baths are far more straightforward than the tangled mess of medical care. We have two baths, one on the ground and one that is about 3 feet high. We enjoy welcoming wrens to our yard and watching those chatty little birds in our taller bath. Cardinals, chickadees, sparrows and finches tend to use the bath on the ground.
My problem is keeping the bird bath clear of leaves and sticks. I have too many outside cats around, so the low water dish is no-go for my home. But I do have trees and feeding stations nearby. I have seen birds waiting on the edge of the bird bath for their turn on the feeder.
If I don’t put out the “right” food out, some of the birds get real picky and toss what they don’t like on the ground. Most of the time, that’s ok since there are ground feeders who will eat the seeds. My problem is the early night hours when the local skunk cruises the bird feeding areas. I have been known to honk the horn, flash lights, etc before I walk up to the house.
Seems like there are a few of us who don’t want to talk about serious political business right now!