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Your imperial majesty:

My own царица has fled the aquatic hinterlands and is currently esconsced with the girls in the Big Easy. This leave me with more time on my hands, after work is completed around the дача, to consider the latest dispatches from our illustrious state-run media. One of them caught my eye because it proposes something I have been advocating for quite some time:

The Hill
Jennifer Martinez – 07/01/13 12:16 PM ET

A freshman House Democrat filed a resolution Friday that would allow members of Congress to vote remotely on bills from their home districts.

Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-Calif.) proposal for a mobile Congress would amend House rules so lawmakers can take care of business using the latest communication technologies, including video conferencing.

Swalwell, whose district is located just north of the heart of Silicon Valley, hopes the amendment will update how Congress works and allow lawmakers to spend more time at home with their constituents.

The resolution would create a secure, remote voting system so members could vote on bills that are being considered under a suspension of regular rules, meaning they require a two-thirds majority in the House to pass. The process is usually reserved for bills that are noncontroversial.

Additionally, the resolution would allow lawmakers and witnesses to participate in committee hearings held in Washington via videoconferencing technology. Rather than jetting back to Washington to attend a committee hearing, a House member could join the hearing with a tap of a button right from his or her district office.

Swalwell, who at 32 is one of the youngest members of Congress, introduced the resolution along with Reps. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

“Companies and families across the country are using technology to communicate remotely. There is no reason that the legislative branch of the world’s oldest democracy cannot do the same,” said Swalwell in a statement. “Our bill will allow Members of Congress to work more efficiently and stay better connected to our constituents. It’s time to upgrade Congress to the 21st century.”

Pearce introduced a similar resolution this spring, which is aimed at creating a “virtual Congress.” His resolution is intended to allow lawmakers to hold hearings, debate and vote on legislation virtually from their district offices.

The New Mexico Republican believes letting lawmakers work virtually from their districts would make lawmakers more accountable to their constituents, rather than corporate lobbyists.

Swalwell filed his resolution as members left town for the fourth of July recess.”

This makes more and more sense through the use of various classified electronic data transmission systems the government has at its disposal. Encryption has reached the point where this is possible. Really seriously-classified material can still be discussed in person if needed through periodic committee meetings. Classified traffic constantly travels around the world via secure DOS and DOD (among others) data transmission systems. There should be no problem with Congress’s material – most of it unclassified, albeit potentially acutely embarassing – being discussed on similar unclassified systems. One thing it most certainly would do is keep the rascals in their home districts most of the time where they would be face-to-face with their constituents and much more accountable to them. Think of the possibilities – you could turn the two chambers on Capitol Hill into museums, or put them to some other use.
I also have a proposed location for a Congressional conference center. We can work on refinements to the accommodations if you like.

ID

Also, this was stuffed under the janitor’s closet door on our floor; evidently, Ghettoputer still has no idea where our actual office is within the Castle, but at least he got the floor right. It had big, greasy thumbprints of Sriracha all over it.

Dear Mr. T. Czar:

Nice post. Mostly because you stole all my original ideas like “let the damned market sort it out.” At least I got credit in the text and label.

Seriously, a much better explication of my position than I’d been doing. I sort of built on it today in my “Dionne and vanden Heuvel ride the economic literacy short bus” post.

Little bit sad you didn’t incorporate my “schools guarantee 50% of the student loan proceeds they get.

All in all, good work. For one of them dirty Slavs. At least you’re not a no-good Dank.

Ghettoputer F.X. Gormogon
Castle Gormogon Rumpus Room
(3.14) i6.022Šç9

Readers should note two things: we often do employ that sort of formality with each other around Castle Gormogon, and yes—before you write in—‘Puter is getting the help he needs.

Obviously, the second piece is an attempt at humor on our part.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.