I wrote a piece a week or so back flagging up that the authorization of Federal aid to education was going to expire in 2007.

Now I read over at DKos a piece which links a report (PDF) from the American Federation of Teachers which outlines the dreadful physical state of many school buildings.

I'd be very surprised if teachers generally were not under the impression that a Dem-controlled Congress would, as an early priority, be preparing legislation to address this issue, amongst others relating to K-12 - although, as my earlier piece mentions, there is no mention of K-12 in the long version of New Direction.

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Just looking at a piece over at DKos on an education panel for Yearly Kos, and am drawn into a side-mooch on the No Child Left Behind Act.

During which I learn (I clearly haven't been paying attention) that the NCLB Act runs out in 2007.

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I'd missed the Postpiece yesterday which details the Dem leadership's revised plan for dealing in the House with the ethics bill which figured as item #1 in her program for the first 100 hours:

Instead of forwarding one big bill, Democrats will put together an ethics package on the House floor piece by piece, allowing incoming freshmen to take charge of high-profile issues and lengthening the time spent on the debate. The approach will ensure that each proposal -- including banning gifts, meals and travel from lobbyists as well as imposing new controls on the budget deficit -- is debated on its own and receives its own vote. That should garner far more media attention for the bill's components before a final vote on the entire package.

This is refreshingly bold thinking from the Dem House leadership, and certainly deserves (and will be getting) a good deal more consideration.

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It's hardly any surprise; the ethics proposals in New Direction were hardly radical; the years' long ethics truce in the House (remember that?) suggested no great desire among House Dems to exploit GOP misfeasance (why could that be? Jefferson? Mollahan? Any ideas?).

And the first real business of the 110th House - the Maj Leader elected pitted Mr Dem K Street Project against Mr 'Total Crap' - the phrase that launched almost more lefty emergency parsing missions than I voted for it before I voted against it!

The Times has a piece today on the variety of views amongst Dem MCs on the ethics bill which is item #1 of Pelosi's 100 hour agenda.

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Yet again, the Signora proclaims a program for a Dem-controlled 110th House - this time in an interview with the AP.

There have been so many stabs at such a program in the last year or so that, if the final version coming into the stretch doesn't smell fresh as a daisy, it's hardly surprising.

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