Here's a story that might give you a holiday chuckle:
WASHINGTON -- Rep.-elect Andy Harris won't be on the front lines in the GOP fight to repeal health care reform, as he had hoped.
The Maryland Republican didn't get his top choice for a committee assignment, the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over public health issues.
OK, well, so what?
Wait, there's more!
Harris, who campaigned on an anti-Obamacare platform, made news last month when he asked during a freshman orientation class why it would take so long for his government health insurance to kick in. The question, first reported by Politico, has become a running joke here, with David Waldman of the liberal Congress Matters website keeping a daily countdown of how many days Harris must wait "for his sweet, sweet government health care."
Reigrut said he doubts the negative publicity affected Harris' chances of getting on the Energy and Commerce Committee, citing the high number of incoming Republican freshmen as a more likely reason.
Recall that the negative publicity from Ranking Republican Joe Barton's infamous "shakedown" apology to BP cost him key support in his losing bid for the chairmanship of that same committee.
Is it possible Harris simply lost out and ended up getting stuck where they traditionally stick all the freshmen (Transportation and Infrastructure and Natural Resources)? Sure, absolutely. But when was the last time you saw the GOP deny one of their doctors the chance to showboat on health care issues?
Well, you just saw it. And I'd like to think this is why: