No Time Like The Present
It has always seemed to me that if something is a good idea, why not put it into practice right away? Forget “New Year’s Resolutions” that have to start on January 1; instead resolve to make whatever change is needed tomorrow, for example.
But that’s not how government works. Here in Iowa, things are better; sometimes new laws take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature, while others start on July 1 or January 1, depending on the amount of time needed to inform people of changes, or to set up systems consistent with the new law, or in the case of income tax, to coincide with the start of a calendar year.
Things are worse at the federal level, with an example that is a real head scratcher.
The head of the CDC—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is simply appointed by the President, without Senate confirmation. However, post-COVID, there was a push to make that person subject to Senate approval…and that’s now the law.
With a vacancy at CDC and a person selected for the job, you’d no doubt be waiting for confirmation hearings, to help determine the new person’s view on things, should another China virus be unleased upon the world, etc.
You’ll be waiting a long time…since the law requiring the CDC head to be subject to confirmation hearings does not take effect until—January 1, 2025…after the next election, for some odd reason. You probably didn’t know about it because it was buried in that insane omnibus bill pushed through before the current Congress was seated.
If it’s such a darn good idea for such an important job to be subject to Senate review and public hearings…then why wait so long to have the law go into effect? Simple answer…to preserve the swamp, with the personal goals of elected officials outweighing the interests of the people they are supposed to serve.
Apparently now one more thing we have to check before any bill is passed…what’s the effective date, and if not immediate, why not?
