tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post5614134555770066805..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Read Stuff, You ShouldJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-8944672414732123252011-09-20T11:38:04.849-05:002011-09-20T11:38:04.849-05:00On Republicanism as Religion: Their hope is to sa...On Republicanism as Religion: Their hope is to save us from our ways even if they have to mess the US to expedite the messianic.lounoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-62629103222221348332011-09-19T14:58:06.129-05:002011-09-19T14:58:06.129-05:00Cool. Like I said, I've heard of it, but never...Cool. Like I said, I've heard of it, but never heard it used in conversation when I worked on the Hill, or in conversations since then with staffers. Then again, I wasn't a real LA (or committee staff), just a press person -- although my boss on the Senate side was on approps.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-33419571289504611012011-09-19T14:33:31.592-05:002011-09-19T14:33:31.592-05:00I can assure you that 'cats and dogs' is b...I can assure you that 'cats and dogs' is both real and in regular use, at least in the world of appropriations. The most common usage is to describe what issues are still outstanding for negotiation,whether it be with the minority or the other chamber.<br /><br />Example: subcommittee clerk asks what issues are still open in the portion of the bill you cover. You answer: well, we took care of the library issue and the police issue, so all that's left is the AOC settlement. And a few cats and dogs in the CAO numbers.<br /><br />The issues are always trivial, usually things that either require the agencies to make a choice about how to spend a trivial amount of money, how to administratively solve a non-controversial issue, or just get expected sign-off on something.<br /><br />MGMatt Glassmanhttp://www.mattglassman.comnoreply@blogger.com