NEWS practically from the beginning,” said Fairless. The process, which took the better part of two years, resulted in maps where bus lines were drawn, redrawn and redrawn again. In the end, the complex process resulted in a fairly simple route: It begins at the Boise Towne Square Mall, goes south on Cole Road, west on Overland Road, south on Maple Grove Road and east on Victory Road, ending at the offices of the Boise School District before looping back. Several schools (including Bishop Kelly, Frank Church, West Junior High, College of Western Idaho, Brown Mackie and Stevens Henager), major retailers (the mall, Lowes, Walmart), government offices (Social Security and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), and the region’s largest cineplex (Edwards Boise Stadium 22 10
and IMAX) are all on the route. “I think this has a pretty high probability of being successful,” said Fairless. “These neighborhoods were serviced once before, and the route went away in 2005 but a lot has changed since then. The school district moved their offices out to Victory. The colleges are new and, of course, we’re spending nearly $4 for a gallon of gas.” Fairless expects to use a little psychology and a bit of magic in the coming months. The psychology comes naturally. That was her major when she was a student at Boise State. “It’s all about human interaction,” she said. “I use psychology every day.” But she keeps a bit of magic up her sleeve. “Every year, we seem to pull more rabbits out of our hat,” said Fairless. “I keep thinking I’m out of rabbits, but then we save another service.”
NO POST FOR YOU While on summer recess, Congress blocks recess appointments MARIAN WANG, PROPUBLICA As many have noted, members of Congress left behind some unfinished business when they headed home for their August recess. But here’s something else you should know: Even though hordes of lawmakers have left Washington, D.C., neither chamber of Congress officially adjourned. In an effort to block President Barack Obama from making recess appointments— which the Constitution allows presidents to do—Congressional Republicans have kept Congress technically in session. The Washington Examiner explains: “The Republican-controlled House used a procedural move to help force this issue. Though it’s the Senate that must confirm presidential appointments, under the U.S. Constitution, it cannot adjourn for more than three days without the approval of the House.” So, instead of adjourning, both the House and Senate will be conducting what are known as “pro forma” sessions. What that entails, essentially, is having a member of Congress stick around the Capitol to strike the gavel for what are sometimes seconds-long sessions. And if history is our guide, it seems Congress will have to hold these perfunctory sessions at least once every three days. According to a 2010 Congressional Research Service report, the Constitution doesn’t actually say how long the Senate must be in recess before the president may make a recess appointment, but in 1993, the Justice Department suggested that the number was three days. According to Roll Call, the Senate will be holding pro forma sessions nine times, even while most of its members are back at home. Lest you think this maneuver is specific
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to Republicans: Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also used the strategy under President George W. Bush. Republicans have used it frequently under Obama—during the Memorial Day recess, the July 4 recess and through the rest of August. In June, the freshman class of House Republicans sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner urging him to prevent recess appointments and offering their services for covering the pro forma sessions. “We understand that our request will very likely mean that the House of Representatives will meet no less than once every three days for the remainder of 2011 and all of 2012,” the lawmakers wrote. “We stand ready to assist you in ensuring there are always sufficient members to cover the necessary sessions.” By keeping Congress technically in session, Republicans will be able to keep the president from naming a temporary head to the recently formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The new bureau’s powers are limited without a director, and Republicans have vowed to oppose the confirmation of a new director unless the agency’s authority is rolled back. They’ve speculated that Obama might resort to a recess appointment in order to get his new nominee, former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, finally on the job. Overall, Obama has made relatively few recess appointments. The New York Times noted that he’s made 15—which the White House openly announced last year, citing “Republican obstruction”—compared to Bush’s 171 and President Bill Clinton’s 139 recess appointments. WWW. B O I S E WE E KLY. C O M